A Frog in My Throat Read online

  A Frog in

  My Throat

  FRIEDA WISHINSKY

  illustrated by

  Louise-Andrée Laliberté

  Text copyright © 2008 Frieda Wishinsky

  Illustrations copyright © 2008 Louise-Andrée Laliberté

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

  Wishinsky, Frieda

  A frog in my throat / written by Frieda Wishinsky;

  illustrated by Louise-Andrée Laliberté.

  (Orca echoes)

  Electronic Monograph

  Issued also in print format.

  ISBN 9781551436340(pdf) -- ISBN 9781554695638 (epub)

  I. Laliberté, Louise-Andrée II. Title. III. Series.

  PS8595.I834F76 2008 jC813’.54 C2007-907391-3

  First published in the United States, 2008

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2007942399

  Summary: When Jake starts spending time with his cousin, Kate feels hurt and seeks new friends to play with.

  Orca Book Publishers gratefully acknowledges the support for its publishing programs provided by the following agencies: the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program and the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Province of British Columbia through the BC Arts Council and the Book Publishing Tax Credit.

  Typesetting by Teresa Bubela

  Cover artwork and interior illustrations by Louise-Andrée Laliberté Illustrator photo by Marc Riverin

  In Canada:

  Orca Book Publishers

  PO Box 5626, Station B

  Victoria, BC Canada

  V8R 6S4

  In the United States:

  Orca Book Publishers

  PO Box 468

  Custer, WA USA

  98240-0468

  www.orcabook.com

  11 10 09 08 • 4 3 2 1

  With thanks to Maggie de Vries

  and Maureen Colgan.

  Chapter One

  DUMB MOVIE

  “Want to see Revenge of the Ghost tomorrow?” Kate asked her best friend Jake.

  “Sure,” said Jake.

  Kate and Jake loved Revenge of the Ghost. They’d seen it three times already, but they still loved watching it.

  They loved to scream when the ghost appeared in the captain’s room.

  They loved to screech, “I’m back,” when the ghost screeched, “I’m back.”

  They loved to howl when the ghost took off his head and carried it down the hall like a hat.

  “See you tomorrow at two,” said Kate.

  “I’ll bring potato chips,” said Jake. Jake always brought potato chips.

  The next day, Kate filled a bowl with popcorn and a plate with chocolate chip cookies. She’d helped her mom bake the cookies that morning. The house still smelled of chocolate. It was the best smell in the world.

  At two fifteen, Kate looked out the window. She didn’t see Jake, but she wasn’t worried.

  Jake was always late.

  Last week his excuse was that he didn’t have any clean underwear. The week before he said the zipper on his pants broke. Kate smiled. What crazy excuse would he have today?

  Kate opened the door and peeked out. There was Jake! He was walking down the street with his mom and a tall boy. The tall boy had red hair and freckles just like Jake.

  Who was he?

  “Sorry we’re late,” said Jake. “But my cousin Lionel just came over. He’s moving to our neighborhood next week.”

  “How nice,” said Kate’s mom.

  “Can he watch the movie too?” asked Jake.

  “Of course,” said Kate’s mom.

  Lionel plunked down on the couch in the den. Jake flopped down beside him. Kate slipped the movie into the player. Then she curled up in the big chair.

  The movie began.

  “I’ve seen this movie before,” said Lionel. “It’s dumb.”

  “I know,” said Jake, “but it’s funny.”

  The ghost floated into the captain’s room.

  Kate screamed.

  “Are you scared of the ghost?” Lionel asked her. “He doesn’t even look like a ghost.”

  “Yeah,” said Jake, “he looks fake.”

  Kate glared at Jake. “He looks real to me,” she said.

  The ghost screeched, “I’m back,” but Kate didn’t screech. She felt silly screeching alone.

  Jake didn’t look like he was going to screech. He didn’t look like he was even watching the movie.

  He was too busy talking to Lionel.

  “This movie is really dumb,” said Lionel. “Want to play video games?”

  “We don’t have any,” said Kate.

  “You’re kidding,” said Lionel.

  “We have some at my house,” said Jake. “We can play them later.”

  “Great,” said Lionel.

  The ghost took his head off and carried it in his arm.

  “This is the stupidest movie in the world,” said Lionel.

  Jake nodded. “I know,” he said. “It’s really dumb.”

  How could Jake say that? thought Kate. He loved Revenge of the Ghost.

  Lionel picked up a handful of potato chips and crunched them in his mouth. Then he made a face like a clown. Jake laughed.

  “Shhh,” said Kate, but Lionel crunched some more potato chips. He made a face like a baboon.

  Jake laughed and laughed.

  Kate glared at Lionel, but Lionel kept crunching.

  “Cut it out!” said Kate.

  “Sorry,” said Lionel. “I forgot you were watching the movie.”

  “I can’t anymore,” said Kate. “It’s over.”

  “Hey, Jake,” said Lionel. “Want to go to your house and play video games?”

  “Sure,” said Jake. “I’ll call my mom.”

  Soon Jake and Lionel left.

  Kate ran to her room and flung herself on her bed.

  “What’s the matter?” asked her mom.

  “I hate Lionel,” said Kate. “He said the movie was dumb, and he crunched potato chips and made stupid faces.”

  “Maybe he’s too old for the movie,” said Kate’s mom. “He’s two years older than you and Jake.”

  “He doesn’t act older. He acts like a baby, but Jake thinks he’s funny.”

  “Jake is just trying to be nice to his cousin,” said Kate’s mom.

  “But why isn’t Jake nice to me?”

  “Don’t worry. Jake is still your friend,” said her mom. “And remember, Lionel will be in grade four. He won’t be in your class.”

  It was true. Jake was in her class, not Lionel. Lionel would just be at her school.

  But he’d be there every day.

  Chapter Two

  PARTNERS

  Kate slid into her seat before the first bell.

  Jake wasn’t in his seat yet.

  The bell rang.

  Their teacher, Mr. Bolin, hurried into class. “

  Before I take attendance,” he said, “I have a wonderful surprise. We’re going to the chocolate factory in two weeks.”

  “Yahoo!” shouted all the kids.

  “We’ll learn how cocoa is grown and how chocolate is made,” explained Mr. Bolin. “And the factory promised to give each of us free chocolate samples.”

  “Hurrah!” shouted the kids.

  Kate couldn’t wait. She loved free samples, especially free chocolate samples, and she knew Jake did too.

&
nbsp; Kate pictured the trip with Jake.

  It would be so much fun sitting on the bus together.

  It would be so much fun being partners.

  It would be so much fun eating free samples.

  But where was Jake? He was always late but not this late. Was he sick?

  Just then, Jake dashed into class.

  He handed Mr. Bolin a note. Mr. Bolin read the note and smiled.

  “I’m glad your goldfish didn’t die this time,” said Mr. Bolin.

  Everyone laughed. Jake was famous for his crazy excuses.

  “It’s nice that you were able to show your cousin around school this morning,” said Mr. Bolin. “When is he starting school?”

  “Next Monday.”

  “Good! Just in time for our trip. His grade four class will be going to the chocolate factory with our class. We may even take the same bus.”

  “Neat!” said Jake.

  Kate gulped. What if Jake wanted to sit near Lionel on the bus? What if he wanted to be partners with Lionel on the trip?

  If she didn’t sit next to Jake, who could she sit with? She hardly ever played with anyone else. And the only kids who didn’t have regular partners in her class were Leo, Brad and the new girl, Patty.

  She couldn’t sit near them.

  Leo shot spitballs into her hair. Brad had a drippy nose. And Patty was so shy that she hardly ever said a word.

  All through math and reading, Kate worried about the trip.

  The recess bell rang.

  “Race you to the swings,” said Jake.

  “One. Two. Three. Run!” called Kate.

  Kate ran as fast as she could. So did Jake.

  They reached the swings at the same time.

  “Tie,” said Jake. He hopped on a swing.

  Kate hopped on the next swing.

  “Isn’t it great that Lionel will go on the trip with us?” Jake asked.

  Kate didn’t say anything. She began to pump. Her ponytail bobbed up and down as she flew.

  “So what do you think?” asked Jake.

  “About what?” asked Kate.

  “About Lionel, of course.”

  “Well...,” muttered Kate.

  “Isn’t he the funniest kid you ever met?” asked Jake.

  “No,” said Kate.

  “Who’s funnier than Lionel?”

  “I don’t know,” said Kate.

  “Lionel knows a thousand jokes. I hope he’s on our bus to the chocolate factory.”

  But Kate hoped he wasn’t.

  Chapter Three

  BACK TOGETHER

  On Tuesday, Jake didn’t mention Lionel once.

  Jake didn’t mention Lionel as they played catch at first recess. He didn’t mention Lionel as they climbed rocks at the back of the yard at second recess.

  By the time they walked home together after school, Kate had almost forgotten about Lionel.

  “I hope they give us milk-chocolate samples at the chocolate factory,” Kate told Jake. “Milk chocolate is my favorite.”

  “I hope they give us milk-chocolate-with-caramel samples,” said Jake. “I love caramel.”

  “Maybe they’ll try out new chocolate bars on us,” said Kate.

  “Yeah. Like chocolate with spinach?”

  “Or broccoli,” said Kate.

  “Or chocolate with sardines!” said Jake.

  “How about mashed-up hot dog bits?” suggested Kate.

  Soon Jake and Kate were laughing so hard they couldn’t talk.

  It felt like old times.

  On Friday after school, Jake came over to Kate’s house.

  “Let’s play in your walk-in closet,” suggested Jake.

  They loved playing in the closet. It was big and dark and spooky.

  Sometimes it became a jungle, and they hunted lions.

  Sometimes it became a time machine, and they went back to caveman days. Sometimes they went forward in time and became robots.

  “Let’s fly to Mars today,” suggested Kate as she opened the closet door.

  “Look out!” said Jake. “There’s a green alien behind you.”

  Kate spun around. “Yikes!” she screamed. “His eyes look like slimeballs.”

  Jake grabbed Kate’s arm. “There are three more aliens behind you. And they have ray guns.”

  Kate grabbed a wire hanger. Pow. Pow. Pow

  “Got ‘em!” she said.

  “Look. They’ve melted into green mush,” said Jake, pointing to a rolled-up green sweater on the floor.

  “But here come three blue aliens.”

  “Don’t worry. They’re carrying signs,” said Jake. “Their signs say WE COME IN PEACE.”

  “Yeah, right. I don’t believe them. It’s a trap,” said Kate.

  “Listen,” said Jake. “What’s that noise?”

  “I don’t hear anything,” said Kate.

  “Someone is saying my name,” said Jake, “for real.”

  Kate and Jake listened. Sure enough, someone was calling Jake’s name. It sounded far away, but the sound was coming closer and closer.

  Kate grabbed Jake’s hand. Jake’s hand was sweaty.

  “Jake! Jake!” The voice was louder and louder. “Are you in there?”

  “Oh,” said Kate. “It’s just my mother.” Kate opened the closet door.

  “Oh, there you two are,” said Kate’s mom. “Your mom wants you to come home, Jake. Your cousin Lionel and his mother have just come over to your house.”

  “Great!” said Jake, and before Kate could say goodbye, he dashed out the door.

  Kate slumped on her bed. Everything had been going so well. Everything was the way it used to be.

  But now it wasn’t.

  Lionel was back.

  Chapter Four

  NOTHING TO DO

  “There’s nothing to do,” Kate told her mom on Saturday.

  “Call Jake. You usually play with him on Saturday,” suggested her mom.

  “He’s probably busy with Lionel. Lionel’s moving to our neighborhood today.”

  “Call anyway. Jake might not be busy all day.

  ” Kate sighed. “Okay. I’ll call, but I bet he’ll be busy.”

  Kate dialed Jake’s number.

  “Hi, Kate,” said Jake in his usual friendly voice.

  “Do you want to come over and watch a movie?” asked Kate.

  “I can’t,” said Jake. “I have to help Lionel move his stuff today.”

  “How about tomorrow?” asked Kate. “We could watch a movie and play in my closet.”

  “I can’t,” said Jake. “We’re taking Lionel and his parents out for lunch. Then Lionel is showing me his new computer games. Isn’t it great that Lionel lives only two blocks away from me?”

  Kate wanted to scream, No, it’s not great!

  But she couldn’t scream. She couldn’t say anything. She felt like she’d just swallowed a frog and it was stuck in her throat.

  “See you at school,” said Jake.

  Kate slammed down the phone. “I wish I hadn’t called,” she told her mom. “Jake is busy all weekend with Lionel. He’ll probably be busy all year with Lionel. Then I’ll have nobody to play with.”

  Kate ran to her room. She punched her pillow. She buried her head in her quilt.

  “Come on, Kate,” said her mom, opening the door. “Let’s go to the movies.”

  “I don’t want to go to the movies. I don’t want to do anything. I’m never leaving my room.”

  Kate’s mom sighed. “If you change your mind,” she said, “let me know.”

  Kate’s mom shut her door.

  Kate crawled under her quilt. She closed her eyes, but when she did, all she could hear was Jake and Lionel laughing. All she could see was Jake and Lionel playing computer games.

  Kate opened her eyes.

  She jumped out of bed. She grabbed her new book, Mystery on Planet Zebra.

  Jake said it was good. Jake said that when she finished Planet Zebra, he’d give her his copy of Myst
ery on Planet Ape.

  Kate slammed the book shut. Her room was full of Jake. Jake’s books. The closet they played in. She even had Jake’s socks in her drawer. He had left them there when they played Desert Island three weeks ago.

  Jake was everywhere in her room. She had to get out or she’d really really scream.

  Kate opened her door.

  “Let’s go to the movies, Mom,” she said.

  Chapter Five

  LOST

  For two hours, Kate forgot about Jake and Lionel. The movie was funny. The popcorn was fresh and crunchy.

  When Kate and her mom returned home, Grandma May was there.

  “How about a game of cards?” asked Grandma May.

  Kate and Grandma May played ten games of cards. Kate won six. Grandma May won four.

  Saturday passed.

  Sunday was busy too.

  Kate’s mom baked a cake and Kate helped her.

  Kate’s Aunt Claire came over with her new baby and new dog. Kate played with the new dog. The new baby was too little and cranky to play.

  Kate almost forgot about Jake and Lionel all Sunday, but at eight o’clock she remembered.

  It was back to school tomorrow. School meant Jake and Lionel. School meant no one to play with at recess.

  “You don’t know that for sure,” said Kate’s mom. “Remember, Lionel is in grade four. He’ll probably want to play with grade four kids.”

  “I hope so,” said Kate.

  The next morning at school, Jake missed the bell. As he slid into his seat five minutes after it rang, the kids laughed. They were waiting to hear his latest excuse.

  “So,” said Mr. Bolin, trying to hide a smile. “What’s it this time?”

  “It’s my cousin Lionel’s first day at school. I had to help him find his classroom.”

  “Didn’t you show Lionel around school last Monday?”

  “Yes, but Lionel forgot where to go.”

  The kids twittered.

  “Lionel is in fourth grade, right?” said Mr. Bolin.