A Frog in My Throat by Frieda Wishinsky Read Free Book Online Page A

crunched potato chips and made stupid faces.”
    â€œMaybe he’s too old for the movie,” said Kate’s mom. “He’s two years older than you and Jake.”
    â€œHe doesn’t act older. He acts like a baby, but Jake thinks he’s funny.”
    â€œJake is just trying to be nice to his cousin,” said Kate’s mom.
    â€œBut why isn’t Jake nice to me?”

    â€œDon’t worry. Jake is still your friend,” said her mom. “And remember, Lionel will be in grade four. He won’t be in your class.”
    It was true. Jake was in her class, not Lionel. Lionel would just be at her school.
    But he’d be there every day.

Chapter Two
PARTNERS
    Kate slid into her seat before the first bell.
    Jake wasn’t in his seat yet.
    The bell rang.
    Their teacher, Mr. Bolin, hurried into class. “
    Before I take attendance,” he said, “I have a wonderful surprise. We’re going to the chocolate factory in two weeks.”
    â€œYahoo!” shouted all the kids.
    â€œWe’ll learn how cocoa is grown and how chocolate is made,” explained Mr. Bolin. “And the factory promised to give each of us free chocolate samples.”
    â€œHurrah!” shouted the kids.

    Kate couldn’t wait. She loved free samples, especially free chocolate samples, and she knew Jake did too.
    Kate pictured the trip with Jake.
    It would be so much fun sitting on the bus together.
    It would be so much fun being partners.
    It would be so much fun eating free samples.
    But where was Jake? He was always late but not this late. Was he sick?
    Just then, Jake dashed into class.
    He handed Mr. Bolin a note. Mr. Bolin read the note and smiled.
    â€œI’m glad your goldfish didn’t die this time,” said Mr. Bolin.
    Everyone laughed. Jake was famous for his crazy excuses.
    â€œIt’s nice that you were able to show your cousin around school this morning,” said Mr. Bolin. “When is he starting school?”

    â€œNext Monday.”
    â€œGood! Just in time for our trip. His grade four class will be going to the chocolate factory with our class. We may even take the same bus.”
    â€œNeat!” said Jake.
    Kate gulped. What if Jake wanted to sit near Lionel on the bus? What if he wanted to be partners with Lionel on the trip?
    If she didn’t sit next to Jake, who could she sit with? She hardly ever played with anyone else. And the only kids who didn’t have regular partners in her class were Leo, Brad and the new girl, Patty.
    She couldn’t sit near them.
    Leo shot spitballs into her hair. Brad had a drippy nose. And Patty was so shy that she hardly ever said a word.
    All through math and reading, Kate worried about the trip.
    The recess bell rang.
    â€œRace you to the swings,” said Jake.

    â€œOne. Two. Three. Run!” called Kate.
    Kate ran as fast as she could. So did Jake.
    They reached the swings at the same time.
    â€œTie,” said Jake. He hopped on a swing.
    Kate hopped on the next swing.
    â€œIsn’t it great that Lionel will go on the trip with us?” Jake asked.
    Kate didn’t say anything. She began to pump. Her ponytail bobbed up and down as she flew.
    â€œSo what do you think?” asked Jake.
    â€œAbout what?” asked Kate.
    â€œAbout Lionel, of course.”
    â€œWell...,” muttered Kate.
    â€œIsn’t he the funniest kid you ever met?” asked Jake.
    â€œNo,” said Kate.
    â€œWho’s funnier than Lionel?”
    â€œI don’t know,” said Kate.
    â€œLionel knows a thousand jokes. I hope he’s on our bus to the chocolate factory.”
    But Kate hoped he wasn’t.

Chapter Three
BACK TOGETHER
    On Tuesday, Jake didn’t mention Lionel once.
    Jake didn’t mention Lionel as they played catch at first recess. He didn’t mention Lionel as they climbed rocks at the back of the yard at second recess.
    By the time they walked home together