Pfenstermacher had stopped him. He looked back at the house. He looked down at where Maybelle had been sitting. He looked in the direction where everyone had run off.
Finally he shrugged and absentmindedly took a bite of the apple.
Instantly his eyes grew wide.
âWait!â he cried, springing to his feet. âLittle pudgy woman, come back! I think I love you!â
He paused. âLove her? How can I love her? I just met her! Besides, sheâs so short!â
He shook his head. âWhat does time matter? What does short matter? What does pudge matter? I love her!â
And with that, Dr. Dekter raced off after Maybelle, Edna, and Zozmagog.
Chapter Ten
Zozmagogâs Secret
Edna Prim was running in circles around a big tree, and she had just about had it.
She had been horribly startled when the imp spotted her in the forest and began chasing her. But no mere imp was going to torment her like this. Stopping in her tracks, she turned around and drew herself up to her full height. Raising one hand, she snapped, âThat will be about enough of that!â
It was a voice that could have stopped a bull elephant, much less a mere imp. Zozmagog stopped so fast he nearly fell over. Then he stood stock still, staring up at her in astonishment.
âAll right just why are you chasing me?â asked Edna, in a tone that demanded he answer.
âBecause I love you,â Zozmagog moaned. âYou are the sun and the moon and the stars. You areââ
âOh, angel feathers. Cut the baloney you little monster. Imps canât fall in love.â
âI have,â said Zozmagog. Then he tipped his head back and moaned helplessly. âIâm in loo-o-o-ove with a wonderful woman.â
âOh, sit down,â commanded Edna. âNow!â
Zozmagog sat. At that moment, Zitzel came on the scene. When he saw what was going on, he hid behind a tree to listen. After all, it was possible the boss was working on some master prank. If he interrupted now, it could mean noogies for a week.
âAll right, describe this love,â said Edna, pronouncing the word love as if it tasted like mustard mixed with vinegar.
Zozmagog made his thinking face. âWell, my insides are all jumbled up.â He put his hand on his chest. âAnd I have a burning sensation right here. My stomach is in a knot. Yet I feel all bubbly inside.â
Edna snorted. âThatâs not love, itâs heartburn. Youâve been eating too much spicy food.â
Zozmagog threw back his head and howled mournfully.
âStop that!â said Edna. âItâs disgusting!â
âWell itâs not easy being an imp in love.â
âNot easy? Itâs impossible! Magic canât create love out of nothing. And imps have no love. So that apple couldnât have affected you.â
âBut it did.â Zozmagog sprang to his feet. âKiss me, or I shall die!â
âWhat???â
âKiss me, you gorgeous tower of femininity!â
He rushed toward Edna. She sidestepped him, and he ran into the tree.
He was too much in love to notice. Spinning around, he began to chase her again, crying, âKiss me, kiss me, kiss me!â
They made another three or four circuits of the tree. Then Edna stopped, turned around, and rapped him sharply on the nose with her wand.
âOwwww!â cried Zozmagog. âOw! Ow! Ow! What did you do that for?â
Grabbing his nose, he turned away from Edna and bent over, sobbing and moaning as if he was in blazing agony. Actually, his nose didnât hurt that much. But he was hoping he might get some sympathy.
He was barking up the wrong fairy godmother. Reaching forward, Edna grabbed his tail. âStraighten up!â she ordered, giving his tail a stiff tug.
It broke off in her hand.
She stared at the severed tail in horror. âGood heavens!â she shrieked. âWhat have I done?â
Zozmagog spun around. âGive me
Learning to Kill: Stories