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.

“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.

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.

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?”