Jennifer Murdley's Toad (Magic Shop Books) Read Free Page B

toad's legs dangled from the bottom of Skippy's fist and his chin peeked over the top; his face seemed to waver between fear and rage as Skippy raised him to look more closely.
    "He's a pretty good old toad," he said, bringing Bufo's warty nose close to his own freckled one. "What do you want for him?"
    "Nothing!" snapped Jennifer, grabbing for Bufo. "He's not for sale."
    "Cool it," said Skippy, raising Bufo over his head, where Jennifer could not reach him. "After today, you owe me. And I say this toad is mine."
    Still holding Bufo, he headed for the door.
    "Skippy!" Jennifer cried. "Wait!"
    Her brother ignored her. But as he was about to leave the room, Bufo uttered a sound that made Jennifer think of nails scraping down a blackboard.
    Skippy stopped and looked at the toad in surprise. "I never heard a toad make a noise like that before," he said.
    Bufo made the noise again, even louder. Skippy dropped him and stepped back. The moment Bufo hit the floor, he scrambled over to Jennifer, who scooped him up. He crouched in the shelter of her hands, glaring at Skippy.
    "That toad is weird," said Skippy, looking at his hand, then rubbing it nervously on his jeans. "Are you sure he's not sick?"
    "He's not sick, he's just special," said Jennifer. "And I can't give him to you because he's for a school project."
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    "Well, you still owe me," said Skippy. "You promised to keep your mouth shut about wearing my underpants."
    "I only told one person!"
    "Telling one girl is like telling the world!"
    Jennifer was furious. She knew Skippy's friends gossiped at least as much as hers did, but after today's disaster she was in no position to argue the point.
    "I'm sorry," she said sullenly. "That's not good enough. Say it."
    "No. Let me pay you back now."
    "Give me the toad?"
    "No!"
    "Then say it!"
    "No!"
    Skippy began to reach for Bufo. "Say it, or I take the toad!"
    "All right! I owe you!"
    Skippy gave her a grin that she knew all too well. "Good. You can keep your old toad."
    He left the room, slamming the door behind him.
    "What a disgusting creature," said Bufo.
    "Oh, shut up," snapped Jennifer. She was worried. To say "I owe you" was sacred in their family, a binding obligation for a favor that could be called in at any time. And Skippy was brilliant at finding the least pleasant way possible to have her cancel her debts.
    "You just better be worth it," muttered Jennifer, depositing the toad in his tank.
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    Bufo, a shocked expression on his face, turned his back and went into a corner to sulk. Jennifer was trying to decide if she should try to talk him into a better mood, when Brandon appeared at her door. "Let's play phone," he said, holding up the red plastic phone she had given him for his last birthday.
    "I'm sorry, Bran," she said. "I don't have time to play right now. I have to ..."
    Jennifer stopped. She stared at the phone her little brother was holding. It was small and made of red plastic. It had pictures of cartoon characters on the buttons.
    And it was doing something it had never done before.
    It was ringing.
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    THREE
    Vocal Exercises
    Brandon and Jennifer stared at the phone in astonishment. It rang again.
    "I didn't know it could do that!" cried Brandon, his voice filled with delight.
    Jennifer was not as thrilled. Remembering the time Skippy had put a tape recorder under her bed and convinced her that her room was haunted, she said, "Brandon, did Skippy fix up that phone to fool me?"
    "Uh-uh, no, honest!" replied Brandon, his eyes wide with innocence. Ring!
    Jennifer was not entirely convinced. Skippy had four basic ways of dealing with Brandon. They were--
    a. ignoring him
    b. tormenting him
    c. using him shamelessly
    d. playing nicely with him
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    Though "playing nicely" was clearly at the bottom of the list, Brandon adored Skippy, and desperately wanted to please him. So even though Brandon also loved Jennifer, it was not hard for Skippy to pull him into pranks directed against her.
    Ring!
    "I better answer it,"