Once Upon a Toad by Heather Vogel Frederick Page B

juggler, and a skinny kid with two fluffy little dogs on leashes and a big sign that said STUPID PET TRICKS R US.
    Finally I made it to where my friends were standing.
    â€œThere you are,” said Rajit. “We were starting to get worried about you.”
    Rani held out a copy of the program. “We’re on right after your stepsister and her friends,” she told me. “We’ll be closing the show.”
    â€œThat’s because they’re saving the best for last,” Juliet said with a smile.
    I looked around, wishing there were someplace we could go to warm up. With all the excitement at home this evening, I hadn’t even had time to tune my instrument.
    â€œPeople!” said Mrs. Bonneville, lifting her voice to be heard above the buzz of excitement backstage. “Listen up! Is everyone in their assigned places?” She marched down the checklist on her clipboard, calling out the acts and checking them off when someone replied. I felt sorry for anyone who didn’t answer “Present.” Mrs. Bonneville didn’t take any guff even from kids who weren’t her students.
    â€œFive minutes to showtime!” she said when she was done. “Mrs. Bonneville suggests you visit the girls’ and boys’ rooms now, because there won’t be time later.”
    â€œGood idea,” said Rani. “I’m getting nervous, how about you?”
    I nodded vigorously. I always get nervous before concerts.
    Juliet joined us, and the three of us left our instrument cases with Rajit, then headed out the stage’s exit door and down the hallway. There was a line inside the bathroom. I spotted Olivia at the sink, adjusting her sailor hat. Piper was standing next to her, clutching a fistful of pink tulips. I caught her eye in the mirror and she gave a start, then elbowed Olivia and nodded in my direction.
    Olivia turned around and I scowled at her. I know exactly what you’re up to, I thought, with a significant glance at the flowers. My stepsister hadn’t been at school five minutes and she’d already broken her promise to Dad and Iz.
    My first instinct was to go and find them and tell on her. I knew it wouldn’t work, though. By the time I tracked them down and wrote out an explanation, the flowers would be long gone.
    Olivia gave me the stink eye, then flounced out. A few minutes later, when Rani and Juliet and I emerged back into the hallway, she was waiting for me, along with the rest of the Hawk Creek Tappers.
    My stepsister pinched her nose with her fingers.
    â€œCatbox!” cried Piper, right on cue.
    Their friends laughed and held their noses too, backing away from me as if they smelled something horrible. Dissolving into giggles, they tapped away down the hall toward the backstage door.
    I had no choice but to stand there in silence, stifling the urge to tell Olivia off in front of everyone. I couldn’t, of course. I couldn’t say a word. I might as well have been wearing a gag. Hot tears of rage welled up in my eyes.
    â€œDon’t pay any attention to them, Cat,” said Rani, with a glance at my burning face. “Sometimes they still call me Curry Head Kumar. Especially if there aren’t any teachers around.”
    We made our way back to where Rajit was waiting for us, careful to keep our distance from my stepsister and her friends. Olivia thought she was so smart, getting all her friends to gang up on me like that. It would serve her right ifI did tell my father and Iz about the tulips in the bathroom.
    But there wasn’t time now. The curtain was going up.
    The first act was the baton twirler. As she went onstage, I stood in the wings, watching Olivia. My stepsister made me so mad I could just spit. Suddenly I realized that I could do better than spit. I could toad .
    Emboldened, I considered the idea. Maybe it was time to unleash the weapon that would allow me to even up the score. Maybe it was time for a little