Free Frog Power by Beverly Lewis

ONE
    Stacy Henry was late for school. It was the first time all year. But Stacy couldn’t help it.
    Today was Pet Day for Miss Hershey’s third-grade class. And something slimy and green was coming to Blossom Hill School. Jason Birchall said so.
    Stacy tiptoed down the hall carrying her cockapoo puppy. She stopped at the classroom door and peeked inside. Her classmates were showing off their pets.
    Abby Hunter, Stacy’s best friend, wascuddling Snow White, a fluffy white dog. Shawn Hunter, Abby’s adopted Korean brother, was tickling Snow White’s ears.
    Stacy spotted Dunkum in the corner of the room. His real name was Edward Mifflin, but no one called him that. He was Dunkum, the tallest and the best basketball player in school.
    Dunkum lifted Blinkee, his fat gray rabbit, out of the cage. He set her on his desk. Stepping back, he clapped his hands two times. Blinkee sat up on her haunches and wiggled her pink little nose. She was the cutest rabbit Stacy had ever seen.
    Just then, a low croaking sound came from the middle of the classroom. Blinkee pricked up her long bunny ears.
    Stacy shivered. She hid behind the classroom door. The croaking sound continued. The slimy green nightmare is here! Jason Birchall’s bullfrog is the worst creature God ever made, she decided.
    Stacy sneaked around the door and stared across the room. A glass aquarium sat on the desk behind hers. Inches from her desk was Jason’s bullfrog. On top of its head, two eyes bulged out.
    Stacy leaned against the classroom door, wishing she could go home. She put Sunday Funnies, her cockapoo, on the floor. He strained on his leash.
    Abby and Shawn ran to Jason’s desk to see the noisy bullfrog. Dunkum carried his rabbit over for a look. Soon, most of the class had gathered around the ten-gallon glass tank.
    But not Stacy. She took a deep breath and crept to Miss Hershey’s desk. Sunday Funnies followed on his leash.
    The teacher smiled at her. “You’re a little late today.” She petted Sunday Funnies’ head.
    â€œI almost didn’t come,” Stacy blurted out.
    Her teacher frowned. “I’m sorry tohear that, Stacy. Are you feeling all right?”
    â€œI’m not sick or anything.” Stacy glanced over her shoulder. Icksville! Why did Miss Hershey have to change the desks around yesterday?
    â€œStacy? Is something wrong?” the teacher asked.
    Stacy turned around slowly. “I, uh . . . no, I’m fine, thanks.” Stacy inched toward her desk, past Eric Hagel.
    Eric’s hamster was nibbling on a piece of carrot inside his cage.
    â€œNice hamster,” Stacy said. She hardly even looked at the hamster. Instead, she stared at Jason’s bullfrog at the end of the row.
    Eric coughed. “Earth to Stacy! Guess what I named my hamster?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Stacy muttered. She was thinking about a slimy bullfrog named Croaker.
    â€œCome on, just guess,” Eric insisted.
    â€œUh . . . Slimy?” It was a dumb name for a hamster, but Stacy couldn’t get the horrible green bullfrog off her mind.
    â€œNot even close,” Eric said.
    â€œThen I give up,” Stacy said flatly. The hamster made her sneeze.
    â€œThis is the smartest hamster in the world,” Eric bragged. “Her name is Fran the Ham. And does she ever ham it up!” He laughed. “Get it— ham it up?”
    â€œOf course I get it,” Stacy snapped. And she clumped off to her desk wishing, wishing. She wished Jason Birchall would take Croaker home.
    Shawn Hunter rushed over to Stacy’s desk. He grinned. “I rub Sunday Funnies’ neck, yes?”
    Stacy nodded. “He likes you, Shawn. Ever since the day he got hit by a car and you helped him.”
    Shawn’s eyes danced as he stroked the cockapoo.
    Dunkum put his rabbit on the floor besideSunday Funnies. The rabbit and the cockapoo sniffed each other. Sunday Funnies