Frog Power Read Free Page B

hate this story!” she yelled. “I hate frogs!”
    Stacy stomped out of her bedroom and down the hall. It was time to think about Easter bonnets and bow ties. Anything but frogs!
    In the living room, Stacy searched through old newspapers. She found the Sunday paper from last week.
    Her puppy scampered down the hall. He nosed his way into the comics. He’d found them again!
    Stacy held up the color page to her face and sniffed. It didn’t smell any different from the other pages. She snuggled herpuppy. “How do you do it, you silly?”
    Stacy folded the comics page in half and began to make a tall pointed hat. She found scissors and glue in the kitchen. Then she made a bow tie to match.
    Stacy giggled as she dressed Sunday Funnies. She picked him up and ran to her room. Standing in front of the long mirror, she held her puppy up. “You’ll be the star of the Easter parade.”
    â€œWoof!” Sunday Funnies agreed.
    Stacy heard the garage door rumble. “Mom’s home!” She hid the Easter hat and bow tie in her closet. Then she ran to the top of the steps. She couldn’t wait to find out more about her dad. Was he really coming?
    Her mother hugged her close when she came in. “Hi, honey, how was school?”
    â€œOK.” She followed her mother into the kitchen.
    Her mother sat at the kitchen table. “Whew! I need a vacation.”

    â€œDisneyland?” Stacy suggested.
    Stacy’s mother chuckled. “That’s not what I had in mind.” She went to the refrigerator. When she opened the door, the note fell off.
    Stacy ran to pick up the note. Now was her big chance. “Why is Daddy coming to town?”
    â€œHe’s coming on business and . . .” Stacy’s mother stopped for a second. “He wants to see you.”
    Stacy held up the note. “This says he wants to see us.” Stacy hoped that meant something. Maybe Daddy was coming back!
    â€œHe’s coming Friday afternoon,” her mother said.
    Three days from now! “Let’s invite him for supper,” Stacy pleaded.
    â€œNot this time,” her mother said.
    Stacy left the room. “Not this time,” she whispered to herself. “Not this time andnot ever!” Why couldn’t her parents at least be friends?
    Stacy went to her room and closed the door. She found her storybook. It reminded her of the best days of her life.
    â€œLet’s find out what happens to the frog prince,” she said to Sunday Funnies.
    Happy and sad feelings jumbled up inside her. She found the bookmark and began to read.

EIGHT
    Stacy pretended her father was sitting next to her. Reading out loud to her.
    The princess was talking to the frog. “I promise to do everything you said.” But the princess secretly hoped the frog would forget. She didn’t want a nasty frog coming into the castle! But she said it again, “I promise.”
    The frog went down, down. Deep into the well. The princess watched and waited.
    Up he came with the gold necklace inhis mouth. He tossed it onto the grass.
    â€œOh!” said the princess. “My beautiful necklace!” And she picked it up and ran away.
    â€œWait a minute!” croaked the frog. “You forgot to take me with you.”
    But the princess didn’t wait for the frog. She ran all the way to the castle. And soon she forgot about him,
    Stacy stopped reading. What a horrible girl, she thought. The princess didn’t even say thank you.
    Stacy stared at the picture of the princess.
    Knockity-knock!
    Stacy jumped. “Come in.”
    It was Abby. She was carrying a white plastic bag. “Hi, Stacy. What are you doing?”
    â€œReading.” Stacy showed the book to her friend.
    â€œOh, I like the bright colors,” Abby said. “Where’d you get it?”
    â€œFrom my dad.” Stacy turned to the front of the book. “It was a birthday present a long time