sound, like this.
Bzzzzzzzz!
The end.”
When they were all finished, Mr. Todd said, “Good job! Thank you all for raising our awareness of these special creatures. Remember, if you find one of these animals in the wild, put it back. It’s important not to remove creatures from their natural habitats.”
Suddenly, Judy had an idea. An Einstein idea! It was time to call a secret club meeting. She passed a note to Frank:
Emergency meeting of the Toad Pee Club today! Pass this to Rocky — J.M.
Jessica leaned forward, trying to see Judy’s note. “I’ll bet you can’t spell the word
endangered,
” hissed Jessica.
“Yes I can,” said Judy. “G-O-N-E, gone.”
Judy had ants in her pants all through Spelling.
Bzzzzzzzz!
At last the bell rang, like a sweet chorus of buzzing tiger beetles, and she, Judy Moody, was G-O-N-E, gone.
After school, Frank, Rocky, and Judy crawled inside the blue tent in Judy’s backyard. While they waited for Stink, Judy whispered the plan to Frank and Rocky.
“I’ll get rid of Stink,” said Rocky.
“And I’ll keep an eye on Toady,” said Frank. Finally, Stink crawled inside the tent, carrying Toady, their mascot, in a yogurt container.
“Where are we gonna put Toady?” asked Stink.
“Over here in the corner by me,” said Frank. “I’ll guard him.”
“And don’t pick him up with your bare hands, Stink, or he’ll get you.
If
you know what I mean,” Judy warned him.
“Hey, did you know if you change two letters around in
T-o-a-d-y
you get
t-o-d-a-y
?” asked Stink.
“That’s nice, Stink,” said Judy. “Did you know if you add three letters to Stink you get Stinkbug?”
Stink ignored her. “It’s squishy in here,” he complained.
“Try making yourself a little smaller, Stink. People take up way too much room on the planet. That’s why we have so many problems.”
“Oh brother,” said Stink. “Why are we here anyway?”
“No reason,” said Rocky. He kicked Frank’s shoe and Frank nudged Judy and all three cracked up.
“Let’s brainstorm,” said Frank. “You know, think up stuff we can do in our club. Even though it’s really hot and crowded in here.”
“I’m too squished. It’s too hot in here to brainstorm,” said Stink.
“It’s global warming,” said Judy. “Right here in Virginia.”
Stink panted like a dog. “Stink. Don’t breathe so much. You’ll ruin the ozone,” said Judy. “There’s already a hole over Antarctica!”
“You’re in the ozone,” said Stink. He crawled out of the tent.
“Perfect!” said Judy. Judy, Rocky, and Frank double high-fived each other.
“And he forgot to take Toady!” said Rocky.
“T-o-d-a-y is your lucky day, T-o-a-d-y. Today is the day we save the world, starting with you,” Judy said.
Frank picked up Toady. Toady blinked. “He doesn’t look endangered!”
“No, but your hand is endangered,” said Judy. “Better put him back.”
“I kind of hate to see him go,” said Frank.
“But Mr. Todd said! Remember? If you catch a creature in the wild you have to put it back. Toadnapping is the same thing as hurting the planet,” Judy explained.
“Just think how happy he’ll be,” said Rocky.
They carried Toady down to the stream behind Judy’s house. “I’ll miss you, Toady,” Judy said. “But the time has come for you to join your toady friends and do your toady things. Go make this planet a better place.” On the count of three, Judy, Rocky, and Frank gently tipped the yogurt container on its side and let Toady go.
“Goodbye, Toadster!” said Rocky.
“Watch out for acid rain!” said Frank. Toady blinked once, then
bloomp!
He plopped into the water. In one, two, three bubbles, Toady was gone.
“Nice sendoff,” said Frank.
“It’s for a good cause,” said Rocky.
“Toadly awesome!” said Judy.
Rocky and Frank went home. She, Judy Moody, was on her way to making the world a better place. The Toad Pee Club had taken one small step for toadkind and one