Free Frog Power by Beverly Lewis Page B

you’re next.”
    When Jason stood up, Stacy scooted down in her seat. Far away from the bullfrog behind her.
    The glass cage was too heavy to move. So Jason was going to show off Croaker from his desk.
    Stacy peeked around her chair.
    Whoosh! Jason took off the wood frame. A silly grin stretched across hisface. Then he reached inside.
    Stacy shivered as Jason’s hands caught the slimy green bullfrog.
    Icksville! She covered her eyes.

THREE
    Jason held his frog high. “This is Croaker.” He pointed to the round spots behind the frog’s eyes. “These are Croaker’s ears. He can hear sounds under water.”
    Jason pranced around his desk. Even with his medicine, he was still hyper sometimes. Up and down the row he paced, showing off his bullfrog.
    Some of the kids were brave. They touched Croaker’s skin. When Jason stopped at Abby Hunter’s desk, she stuckher pointer finger out. Then she closed her eyes, wrinkled her nose, and touched him. Her eyes popped open. “Ew!”
    Jason skipped up to Stacy’s desk. “It’s your turn.” He held the frog in front of her face.
    What’s it feel like? Stacy wondered. She stared at the frog. “I pass,” she said, sliding back in her seat.
    Jason grinned. “You sure?”
    â€œUh-huh.” Stacy looked into the giant eyes of the bullfrog. She felt sick.
    Quick as a flash, Croaker leaped out of Jason’s hands . . . and into Stacy’s lap!
    â€œGet it off me!” she screamed. Her fingers bumped against the bullfrog’s skin. “Ick!”
    Before Jason could grab him, Croaker jumped off Stacy’s lap and landed on Dunkum’s desk.
    â€œI catch! I catch!” Shawn cried in broken English. Letting go of Snow White’s leash, Shawn dashed after Croaker. ThenSnow White darted after Shawn, barking loudly.
    Soon . . .
    Sunday Funnies was yipping.
    Fran the Ham was twittering.
    Croaker was croaking.
    Cats were meowing.
    A parrot was screeching.
    But Miss Hershey was silent. She simply sat at her desk and smiled.
    After chasing the frog around the room two more times, Jason caught Croaker. He put him back in the cage and closed the wooden lid. “There,” said Jason. “I think he needs my hyper medicine.”
    Eric laughed. So did the other boys.
    Stacy didn’t think it was funny. She raised her hand. “May I be excused, please?”
    Miss Hershey nodded.
    Stacy dashed out of the classroom and down the hall. It was time to get rid of the froggy feel on her hands.
    The girls’ room was empty. Good , she thought. Filling her hands with liquid soap, Stacy scrubbed and rubbed and scrubbed some more.
    Suddenly, Stacy heard a strange sound. It was coming from the stall behind her. She listened. What on earth? She dried her hands and waited.
    There it was again. It sounded like . . .
    Out from under the door scampered her puppy.
    â€œSunday Funnies!” she cried. “What are you doing?”
    The puppy’s head was dripping wet.
    â€œOh, you’re thirsty, is that it?” Stacy shook her finger at him. “Toilets are not for drinking.” And she went into the stall to check.
    Thank goodness, the toilet was flushed! Stacy lathered up her hands with soap and washed Sunday Funnies’ head and face.
    Then she held him up to the dryer.
    Minutes later, Miss Hershey came in. “Are you all right, Stacy?”
    Stacy nodded. “Everything’s under control. . . now.”
    Miss Hershey touched Stacy’s shoulder. “Let’s get you back to class. I think you’ll like the story today.”
    Stacy followed Miss Hershey down the hall. She wanted to forget about Jason’s bullfrog. Forever.
    â€œWe’re reading ‘The Frog Prince,’” Miss Hershey said as she opened the classroom door.
    Stacy dragged her feet. She felt worse than ever. It was bad enough having a frog breathe down her