Frogged by Vivian Vande Velde

Author:Vivian Vande Velde
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Eventually, breakfast got made, the wheel got fixed, and the company got under way. That afternoon and the next, they were to visit small towns, whose names were unfamiliar to Imogene, so that was no help in letting her know where she was or how far from home. More worrisome was the fact that she did recognize the name of the bigger town they’d be in after that. Balton Keep was three kingdoms away. Still, her father knew King Salford of Balton Keep. If Imogene could hold on for the two days it would take to travel there, and if she could then get word to King Salford, he would see to it that she’d be returned home. It was the best chance she was likely to get.

Meanwhile, though Luella wouldn’t believe Imogene’s claim of being a princess, she did clearly believe Imogene’s promise not to try to escape. So she let Imogene ride on her shoulder, much to Ned’s displeasure, and that was far more interesting—even though this was Luella—than spending the whole day in a bucket or a pot.

Imogene said to her, “What do you know of the witch who lives just down the road from you?”

Luella shook her head. “I don’t know that story.”

“It’s not a story,” Imogene said. “There’s a witch who lives just down the road from you.”

“Really?” Luella said. “I didn’t know that. The blacksmith lives just down the road. Have you seen him? The young one, I mean, not the father. He is so well built. Those arm and shoulder muscles, glistening with sweat and well-being . . .” Luella sighed and began to fan herself.

Imogene said, “The witch lives before the smithy. In the house with the apple trees in front.”

“I haven’t noticed an apple tree in anyone’s yard,” Luella admitted. “There’s an oak tree where the cooper lives. I know that ’cause every autumn the cooper’s nephew likes to throw acorns at me when I pass by. My friend Nell says that’s a sure sign he likes me. Do you think so?” She didn’t give Imogene a chance to answer. “I used to believe her when we were twelve, but now I’m sixteen, I’m not so sure. Even though he is cute, and I wouldn’t mind him liking me. In the winter, there’re always boys throwing snowballs at girls, and I don’t think all those boys like all those girls. I mean, I suppose they could . . .”

Imogene tried to bring Luella back to the topic of the witch. “Between the cooper’s house and the smithy,” she clarified.

Luella’s brow creased with concentration. “No,” she finally said. “No, I don’t think there’re any cute boys that live in those houses . . .”

Well, that explained why Luella had not noticed any odd goings-on despite living so close to the witch. Apparently all she ever noticed were cute boys.

Which explained Bertie.

But Ned, Imogene thought. Ned knew there was no such thing as Chinese speaking frogs. Why was he pretending?

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