Jennifer Murdley's Toad (Magic Shop Books) by Bruce Coville Read Free Book Online Page A

kitchen. Then she whacked the top off a carrot.
    "Just out," said Jennifer.
    Mrs. Murdley frowned. "Jennifer, you know I want you to check in with us before you take off after school. Your father had no idea where you were. Not that he has enough sense to get worried about you."
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    Since Mrs. Murdley never complained about Mr. Murdley in front of her children unless she was feeling exceptionally cranky, Jennifer knew that now was not the time to tell her that Sharra Moncrieffe was a toad and that she, Jennifer, was probably responsible. As a lawyer, Mrs. Murdley would immediately start thinking about the possible lawsuits involved.
    On the other hand, thought Jennifer, if I get arrested for this, at least Mom will know what to do.
    The thought comforted her. Not a lot, but at this point, she would take what she could get.
    Gathering her courage, she asked, "Can Ellen spend the night?"
    Despite her mother's mood, Jennifer knew the odds were good that she would agree to this request. Sensitive to neighborhood gossip that she was too busy with her career to be a good mother, Mrs. Murdley was always glad to have an outside witness to the times that she actually did cook.
    "If it's okay with her parents," said Mrs. Murdley, decapitating another carrot.
    "Thanks!" said Jennifer.
    She meant it; she really didn't want to be left alone with Sharra and Bufo. Reaching up, she gave her mother a hug--which always made her feel tiny, since her mother was so tall. It also made her feel uglier than usual, since Mrs. Murdley was very beautiful.
    Jennifer thought it was very unfair that such a beautiful mother could have such an ugly kid. Of
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    course, it wasn't her mother's fault. But it sure didn't make things any easier.
    "Sorry about being late," she whispered, when Mrs. Murdley bent down to kiss the top of her head.
    "It's all right," said her mother softly. "But don't let it happen again. What have you got in the box?"
    Jennifer shrugged. "Just an old toad," she said casually.
    THUMP!
    "Sounds like a big one," said Mrs. Murdley. "What are you going to do with him?"
    "I wish I knew!" said Jennifer.
    "All right," said Jennifer, once they were safe in her room, "let's think." She took Sharra out of her pouch and set her on the bed.
    "Let's not," said Bufo, climbing out of his box and hopping over to his tank. "I've still got a headache from the bouncing you gave me on the way home. Have you got an aspirin I can lick?"
    Jennifer hesitated. She wasn't supposed to get aspirin for herself. On the other hand, Bufo was basically an adult.
    "Just a minute," she said.
    "Forget it," said Bufo. "I was only kidding. They stick to my tongue. Give me a few minutes to recover. Then I want you to tell me about that woman you were talking to, what she looked like, how she acted--all the things I missed by being in that box."
    He jumped for the edge of the tank, then climbed over the side and went to sit under his umbrella.
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    "I think we should take Sharra back to her parents' house now," said Ellen, glancing at Bufo nervously.
    Jennifer's stomach twisted. Even though it wasn't really her fault Sharra was a toad, she had a feeling she was going to get blamed for it. But she also had a feeling that Ellen was right.
    Sharra didn't share that feeling.
    "No!" she cried. "No! No! No!"
    "All right," said Jennifer, patting Sharra on the head with her forefinger. "Calm down. No one's going to force you."
    "Don't do that!" snapped Sharra.
    "Well excu-u-u-use me," said Jennifer, drawing her hand back.
    They sat in gloom for a moment, the only break in the silence the annoying buzz of a fly.
    Suddenly Sharra's tongue shot out--ZAP!--and nailed the fly.
    "Good work," said Bufo.
    "Aahh!" cried Sharra, jumping around on the bed as though someone had just lit a match underneath her. "Aahhh! Aahhh! Aaaahhhhh! I ate a fly! I ate a fly! I didn't want to! I didn't mean to do it! Aaahhh!"
    "Oh, quit beefing," said Bufo. "They're good for you."
    "Aaahhh!" said