Hopping Mad Read Online Free PDF

Frank’s brother.”
    Mr. Willis continued to stare at him.
    â€œSir,” Joe added. Mr. Willis nodded.
    â€œWell, Joe Hardy. What were you boys doing in the vents? I’m fairly certain those are not open to the public.”

    â€œWell, sir, it’s about the talent show …”
    â€œThe talent show!” Mr. Willis slapped his forehead. “Oh dear. I forgot that was today. And your talent was climbing through the vents?” Mr. Willis had a reputation for being absentminded.
    Joe and Frank explained what had happened during the show. While they talked, Mr. Willis straightened up the desk they had knocked over. Finally, after they were done talking, Frank asked him about the girl he had mentioned.
    â€œWhat girl?” said Mr. Willis.
    â€œThe one you mentioned earlier? The girl with the frogs?” said Joe. He was watching the clock at the front of the classroom. Time was running out. In fifteen minutes Principal Butler would callAdam’s parents, and then it would all be over.
    â€œOh yes!” said Mr. Willis. “I was working on an experiment, to try to figure out the different temperatures at which materials burn. I had set up a very interesting array of things. I had four candles and a Bunsen burner prepared. The idea was to take different fabrics, and—”
    â€œMr. Willis?” Frank interrupted him. “What about the girl?”
    â€œRight!” says Mr. Willis. “Some girl came in because she’d seen the frogs in the aquarium.” He pointed to a glass case that sat to the left of the vent the boys had come out of. It was empty.
    â€œShe was upset that I was keeping them trapped in here. I explained to her that they had a good life and were safer than they would be in the wild, where predators could get them. Then I turned my back for one minute, and the next thing I know she’s gone—and so were my frogs!”
    â€œThey must be the frogs that ended up falling on the talent show,” said Joe.
    â€œI knew Adam didn’t do it!” said Frank.
    â€œOh dear! I hope the frogs weren’t injured. Do you know where they are now? I need them for class tomorrow,” said Mr. Willis.
    â€œPrincipal Butler has them in her office, I think.”
    â€œThat is great news! I’m going to go get them now.”
    Mr. Willis turned away from Frank and Joe. He nearly ran out of the room.

    â€œWait!” yelled Joe. “The girl—who was it?”
    â€œShe didn’t introduce herself, I’m afraid.”
    â€œWhat did she look like, sir?” asked Joe.
    â€œWell … she was short. And had hair. You know. Like a girl.”
    That wasn’t going to be enough to go on. Joe tried again. “Was there anything different about her? Anything that would help you find her again?”
    Mr. Willis thought for a moment. He pulled his long hair distractedly.
    â€œOh yes! She was dressed funny—like a bumblebee. Now I really must go find my frogs. Good-bye, boys!”
    Mr. Willis ran out of the room.
    â€œDressed like a bumblebee?” said Frank. “Whocould that be? Was anyone wearing wings for the talent show?”
    â€œNo,” said Joe. “But Melissa was dressed in yellow and black! And she said she loves frogs.”
    Was Melissa responsible for ruining her own number?

10
The Show Must Go On
    Excuse me! Sorry! Coming through!”
    Frank and Joe ran through the halls of Bayport Elementary as fast as they could go. They had to talk to Melissa before Principal Butler got out of her meeting. When they got to the door to the auditorium, they could hear singing coming from inside. They were in luck! Melissa was still rehearsing.
    They burst through the doors. Melissa and Todd stopped singing. Before they could say anything, Frank burst out with, “Did you take the frogs from Mr. Willis’s classroom?”
    Melissa looked stunned. “No! I didn’t