The World's Worst Fairy Godmother by Bruce Coville Read Free Book Online Page A

that!” he cried, snatching the tail back from her. If anything, he was even more horrified than she was. He stared at the tail for a moment, then threw himself to the ground and began to roll around, moaning and groaning. Finally he looked up and said, “If you tell Zitzel about this I’ll never forgive you.” He paused for a moment, then added. “Of course, I’ll still love you. But I’ll never forgive you.”
    â€œBut how could this happen?” asked Edna, who was feeling as guilty as if she had stepped on a kitten. Suddenly her eyes widened. “Wait a minute. Look at me.” She bent so that she was face to face with Zozmagog, who was desperately averting his eyes. “Look at me!” she said again, in a voice that left no room for disobedience.
    Zozmagog turned back and looked directly into her eyes.
    â€œAha!” said Edna.
    He ducked his head. “All right,” he said mournfully. “You’ve guessed it. I’m not an imp. When I was born my fairy godmother delivered me to the wrong place.”
    â€œImpossible!” snorted Edna.
    â€œJust because you think something is impossible doesn’t mean it can’t be true. Anyway, the imps that got me were thrilled. They loved teaching me to be rotten.”
    Edna took a deep breath. “Then what you really are…”
    â€œIs a love-struck cherub,” moaned Zozmagog.
    Edna reached up. Snapping her fingers, she pulled a lace handkerchief from the air. She wet it with her tongue, then began to scrub at Zozmagog’s cheek.

    â€œHey, watch it,” he said, trying to squirm away from her.
    â€œIt’s true!” cried Edna, after she had cleaned off several layers of grub and grime. “You are a cherub!”
    â€œI told you,” said Zozmagog. “Anyway, those imps made my life so miserable that I vowed I would get revenge on the woman who did this to me.”
    â€œAnd who was that?” asked Edna.
    â€œMaybelle Clodnowski.”
    Edna let out a heavy sigh. “Suddenly all of this makes sense.” She sat down next to Zozmagog and put her arm around his shoulders. “You poor little cherub,” she said sadly.
    Zitzel was still watching from the bushes. “I think I’m gonna puke,” he muttered, holding his stomach.
    Suddenly Edna stood up. “Well, I’ll take care of this,” she said decisively. “Even if it does cost Maybelle her wings.”
    â€œWill you really?” asked Zozmagog.
    Edna snorted again. “I haven’t been fairy godmother of the year for a hundred and forty-seven years in a row for nothing, buster.”
    Zozmagog sighed. “You’re wonderful. I love you so much. What’s your name?”
    In the bushes, Zitzel was sticking his finger in his throat and pretending to vomit.
    â€œYou know, I never wanted to be bad,” continued Zozmagog in a dreamy voice. “It was just the way they raised me. Naughtiness was the only thing I knew, until I met you.” Turning toward Edna, looking her right in the eyes, he said sincerely, “I was lonelier than you can ever know. My heart hurt so much that I finally put a wall around it. But when I saw you today, somehow that wall just crumbled.”
    A little tear trickled down his cheek.
    Edna reached out to brush the tear away. As she did, she felt a strange fluttering in her chest. Her eyes widened.
    â€œOh, no!” she whispered in horror. “Not that! I can’t let that happen! Listen, you—”
    â€œMy name is Zozmagog.”
    â€œListen, Zozmagog. I need a wall around my heart. It saves me from chaos. If that wall starts ever starts to crack my career as a fairy godmother will be over. Please—don’t knock on a door that I don’t dare answer. Please.” She took a deep breath then said fiercely, “I want to help you. You’ve been terribly wronged, and it is my duty to give you assistance. But