The Story Shell: A Tale of Friendship Bog Read Online Free Page A

shivered. “He decides he’s going to give me a nice little house. It’s a cage.”
    “With a lock,” Pibbin said.
    Leeper leaned back and closed his eyes. “How did you run into him, anyway?”
    Pibbin told him about the missing shell, and Leeper’s eyes opened wide. “That’s terrible!”
    “I sure wasted a bunch of time with that kid.” Pibbin glanced at the sky. “Seems like it’s clearing up.”
    Slowly he said, “I hate to leave you alone. That leg of yours looks pretty bad.”
    Leeper grinned at him. “You’re going to talk to Zip, aren’t you?”
    “Guess so.”
    “I’ll be okay,” Leeper said. “I’ve got plenty of brothers around here. They’ll help me. Maybe I’ll even make it to the party tonight.”
    “Then I guess I’d better get going,” Pibbin said. He could almost feel Zip’s sharp teeth.
    He picked up his backpack and put it on.
    Forget about the teeth. What kind of party would it be without the happy-birthday story?
    “You’ll do great,” Leeper said. “I know you’ll find that shell.”

 

     

Chapter 8
Zip
     
    Pibbin hopped along the shore of Friendship Bog and tried not to worry.
    Chewink had just flown past to say that he’d seen the shell on Zip’s front porch.
    So she had it for sure.
    What was he going to say to her?
    Excuse me, but you stole Gaffer’s shell.
    And then what?
    Maybe squirrels didn’t eat frogs, but one snap of those teeth, and he’d be in worse shape than Leeper.
    “Oh, my!” a voice said.
    He jumped high and landed in a bush.
    A squirrel with a feathery red tail put down the bag she was carrying and peered at him.
    “I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you,” she said. “The grass is so green, you know, and you are too, and I had this bag of books I was thinking about.”
    She smiled, but it was a twitchy sort of smile. “My friend Sheera sent them for Emma. That’s my sweet little girl, you know, and she loves to read, and she’s been sick. Sheera is so kind. And I’m really sorry I almost stepped on you. But you’re so green, which is fine, of course, and I was thinking about Emma. What’s your name?”
    He felt as if he were drowning in words and could hardly squeak. “Pibbin.”
    “Really! You’re one of the frogs who went all the way to Wild Bog and got Sweetberry leaves for Sheera. She told me all about it. I think that’s just wonderful.”
    Zip took a quick breath. “Now, tell me, what brings you to this part of the bog? I’m fixing up my house. It’s in a grand old maple tree. I just adore old trees. Have you seen it?”
    She smiled again, and all Pibbin could see was her sharp front teeth.
    “Oh!” she said. “I really have to hurry along because Emma gets so lonely.”
    She tilted her head to look at him. “But wait! Is there anything I can help you with?”
    “Shell,” he said.
    He hopped higher in the bush, but she still towered over him.
    “Shell.” He said it again because she looked puzzled.
    He tried to sound stern. “Gaffer the Gray wants his shell back. Right away.”
    Zip flicked her tail. “What? Why are you telling me this?”
    “Someone saw you.”
    “Oh.”
    “He needs it,” Pibbin said.
    “For his party?”
    “Yes.”
    “Is he going to tell another of his wonderful stories?”
    “Yes.”
    “Oh, my! I am so sorry.” She turned. “I’ll go and get it for you.”
    “No,” Pibbin said. “I think you should be the one to take it back.”
    She didn’t answer.
    She started slowly down the path, and he hopped behind her.
    She glanced back. “You must think I’m a terrible person, but really, I didn’t steal it. I found it in the grass.”
    He didn’t say anything because he had to take longer and longer jumps to keep up with her.
    She spun around to face him.
    “My little girl has been sick for a long time. I thought I could get some stories for her out of the shell, and then she would feel better.”
    Zip flicked her tail again. “But I couldn’t hear anything in it except the