Read Jennifer Murdley's Toad (Magic Shop Books) for Free Online

followed by a flash of light and a puff of smoke.
    Jennifer and Ellen began to cough. They waved their hands in front of their faces to clear away the smoke.
    When the smoke cleared, it was Jennifer's turn to scream.
    Sharra Moncrieffe was gone.
    On the spot where she had been standing crouched a small, bewildered-looking toad.
    49
    FIVE
    Step into My Parlor
    Jennifer blinked in horror. "Bufo!" she shouted. "What have you done?"
    "Jennifer, what's going on?" cried Ellen. "Where's Sharra?"
    "She's right there," said Bufo, waving his front leg toward the new toad. "Cute little thing, ain't she?"
    "That toad talked!" whispered Ellen, just before she fainted.
    Jennifer couldn't decide whether she should try to deal with Sharra and Ellen or just run as far and as fast as she could, with the vague hope of ending up someplace where she might never be found.
    Before she could give the question much thought, Ponko decided to pounce. Fortunately for the toads, Jennifer spotted the cat and caught him just as he was about to launch himself. Frustrated, Ponko turned and hissed at her.
    "Cool it, fuzz brain!" snapped Jennifer, slapping him on the nose.
    50
    Bufo, suddenly aware of what was happening, squawked and jumped back into his box, which still lay where Sharra had dropped it. "Take that thing away!" he commanded, trying to pull the lid into place.
    "You cool it, too!" shouted Jennifer. "I've got enough to worry about with this cat ..."
    Before she could finish the sentence, Ponko squirmed out of her grasp and dropped to the ground, landing face to face with Sharra. His hunting stance made it clear this was to be a temporary situation: soon he and Sharra would be face to stomach.
    Jennifer was terrified. It was one thing to turn an enemy into a toad. It was something completely different to have her eaten by her own cat!
    Fortunately, Sharra knew how to deal with her pet. "Bad Ponko!" she scolded. "Bad cat! Go away!"
    The effect on Ponko of hearing Sharra's voice come out of something he was about to eat was remarkable. He hissed and fluffed his tail, then started to back away nervously. Jennifer would have sworn his eyes began to cross.
    "Scat!" yelled Sharra.
    Ponko yowled and took off like his tail was on fire.
    For a moment no one said anything. The only sound was a soft groan from the unconscious Ellen, who was lying on the grass next to the sidewalk. Then Sharra began to scream.
    "Murdley!" she screeched. "Look what you've done to me! Look what you've done!"
    51
    [blank page]
    52
    "Shhhh!" hissed Jennifer. "Someone will hear you!"
    "I don't care!" wailed Sharra. "Let them hear me!"
    "Spunky little thing, ain't she?" said Bufo approvingly. He was standing at the edge of his box, leaning over it like a neighbor at a back fence. "I think she looks better this way, don't you?"
    "You shut up!" said Jennifer savagely. "You, too," she added, pointing to Sharra. "If you don't, someone's bound to come over to find out what's wrong. Do you want anyone to see you like this?"
    "No!" cried Sharra, her voice filled with panic. "No! No! No! I can't let anyone see me this way!"
    "Then be quiet and let me think." Plopping down on the grass, Jennifer noticed Ellen. "Wake up!" she said, giving her a nudge.
    Ellen groaned, opened her eyes, took one look at Sharra, and immediately passed out again.
    "Great," said Jennifer. Linking her hands around her knees to stop them from trembling, she tried to think. But her insides were churning so fast she felt like a human blender. The only thought that came to mind was, I wonder if they can put you in jail for turning a kid into a toad?
    Sharra had begun to weep, which only made Jennifer feel worse. Much as she disliked Sharra, she didn't want her to have to spend the rest of her life as a toad.
    Six months, maybe. But not the rest of her life.
    53
    Then the obvious struck her, and she wondered why she hadn't thought of it at once. "Bufo," she said. "Turn her back."
    "I can't."
    "What do you mean, you