Toad Away by Morris Gleitzman Read Free Book Online Page B

She wouldn't do anything stupid, not on such an important quest.
    The thought made Limpy feel better. Goliath seemed to be calming down too.
    “You're right,” said Goliath quietly.“I'm being selfish. This is a good hiding place. When does the in-flight meal service start?”
    “Limpy,” said Goliath. “I don't think this is such a good hiding place after all.”
    Limpy was trying to have a doze to take his mind off Charm. In his imagination he was in the Amazon, learning the secrets of a peaceful life from happy peaceful cane toads and happy peaceful humans and a very happy and peaceful tree fungus.
    “Limpy,” repeated Goliath, more urgently.
    Limpy sighed but didn't open his eyes.
    Why can't Goliath ever stop complaining? he thought wearily. OK, it is a bit cramped under this seat, and this strap cuts into your warts something chronic, but it's not all bad. There's a feast of crumbs and food scraps under here, and Goliath really enjoyed that lump of old bubblegum he found.
    “Limpy,” said Goliath, his voice wobbling.“Did you hear me?”
    Limpy felt himself getting cross. He took a deep breath through his skin pores and reminded himself that poor Goliath had a good reason for being a whinger. His parents had split when he was very young. A truck had run over them and they'd each ended up completely split in half.
    “Limpy,” said Goliath, sounding really upset now.
    Limpy opened his eyes to ask Goliath to try and forget he was an abandoned child and to be patient for the sake of cane toads everywhere.
    The croak froze in his throat as he saw what was peeking at him and Goliath under the edge of the seat.
    Two upside-down human faces.
    It could have been worse, thought Limpy.
    The humans could have been angry, violent adults.
    These two nice little kids are much better, decided Limpy. Especially as they just want to play with us instead of bashing us with heavy hand-luggage.
    Limpy tried to stay as quiet as he could. He didn't want to wake the kids’ parents, who were dozing in their seats with the cabin lights off. But the game the kids were playing made that a bit difficult.
    “Ooh,” giggled Limpy. “That tickles.”
    “I know what you mean,” muttered Goliath.
    Limpy had never worn dolls’ clothes before. They felt strange, but it was partly because the army outfit the boy was putting on him was a bit tight around the tummy.
    The boy put an army helmet onto Limpy's head. It was a bit tight too, but Limpy didn't mind, because the boy was grinning happily.
    So this is what it feels like to be friends with a human, thought Limpy, grinning happily too.
    While the boy struggled to clip an army belt round Limpy's middle, Limpy wondered if this was the ancient secret his rellies in the Amazon had discovered. That humans don't hurt you as long as you let them dress you up.
    Later on, the kids fell asleep.
    Limpy turned round slowly on the boy's knee, careful not to wake him.
    “Goliath,” whispered Limpy. “Are you OK?”
    “No,” said Goliath, wriggling uncomfortably on the girl's lap. “My dress is too small.”
    “I think it looks nice,” said Limpy.
    “These earrings are stabbing my ears,” said Goliath.
    “That's a shame,” said Limpy. “They match your eyes.”
    “And these shoes are killing my feet,” said Goliath.“Every time I try and kick them off, I stab myself in the ankles with the high heels.”
    Limpy sighed.
    Goliath just didn't understand how important it was to the future well-being of cane toads everywhere to be a good pet.
    “This is good,” whispered Limpy to Goliath. “If humans start adopting cane toads as pets, our problems are over.”
    “No, they're not,” grumbled Goliath. “This lipstick tastes yuck.”
    Limpy had to admit he didn't feel completely good either, but he was pretty sure he would once his new owner worked out his tummy size.
    Then Goliath noticed his little girl was asleep.
    “I'm out of here,” he muttered.
    Before Limpy could stop him,