How to Save Your Tail Read Online Free PDF

diamond tiara encircled his head and, if truth be told, Bob was the fairest maiden in the land.
    Bob looked at Cindy, who was now a magnificent white horse adorned with a golden saddle and silver feathers.
    The witch had turned into a pumpkin.
    The pumpkin seed was still just a pumpkin seed.

    “Oops,” said Bob. His new voice was soft and sweet.
    Cindy snorted. “Shall we go?”
    “But … but …”
    “But what?” asked Cindy. “I’m wearing gold and silver. I can go to the ball. And who knows, maybe I can still meet the Prince and dance under the stars.”
    “Okay,” said Bob. “But we can’t stay long. Itsays here that the magic ends at midnight, and I don’t wish to be under all those feet when I turn back into myself.”
    Trumpets blared as the fair maiden rode up to the palace on the golden horse. The maiden smiled, and the horse tossed its head and flared its nostrils.
    Prince Charming was thunderstruck.
    The King and Queen swooned and sighed. “Our baby’s in love!”
    Charming helped the maiden down from the saddle. Their eyes met.
    Then off he rode on the horse.
    While Cindy pranced under the stars with Charming and ate rare grasses from faraway lands, Bob was the toast of the ball. He smiled and danced and chatted with the King and Queen.
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss—?”
    “Bob,” said Bob.
    “Yes, Miss Bob. Miss Bob, say hello to the Duke.”
    Miss Bob dazzled palace partygoers. Then he—I mean she—well, you know who I mean—heaped a plate with cheese puffs, pork rinds, and apple pie, and stole off to the library to read.
    Hours ticked by.
    At length, Miss Bob heard Cindy neigh beneath the window.
One minute to midnight!
The maiden dashed through the castle, out the door, and into the moonlight. Below him, Cindy waited at the foot of the stairs, Charming still on her back.
    Miss Bob hurried down the steps, which is tricky in glass slippers. One broke when he tripped. As he stopped to pick up the pieces, the clock struck twelve.
    A flurry of glitter put Bob back into his ownfuzzy skin and Cindy back into her torn, tattered frock.
    Charming, without a horse beneath him, fell on his you-know-what.
    “Where’s my horse?” he asked. Then he looked at the servant girl. “Who are you?”
    Cindy tossed her hair and flared her nostrils.

    Charming looked into her eyes. “Do you like horses?” he asked.
    “Love them,” she said.
    And the two walked off to see his stable and make wedding plans.
    Alone, Bob scurried back to the library and chewed a nice roomy nest in an overstuffed throne. He’s lived there ever since—reading and baking, baking and reading—except when Cindy visits her in-laws and brings along her children. After tea, Bob tells the children a story or two, and then they run outside to dress the Queen’s cats in doll clothes and send them down the hill in a baby carriage.
    Back at the cottage, the witch rotted into a stinky puddle of moldy mush. Because once a pumpkin, all one can turn into is that. Or a pie.

Happily Ever After
    “I remember that ball,” said Muffin.
    “The smoked salmon was divine!”
    “I remember that horse,” said Brutus. “She almost stepped on me.”
    “Wait a minute,” said Muffin, looking at the rat and thinking hard. “You bake cookies—just like Bob.” Her tail swished while she consideredthe coincidence. “And Cindy visits you all the time!” A light flashed in her eyes. “So if the horse was Cindy,” she reasoned, “then the maiden must have been …” She studied the rat’s face. “What am I saying? You couldn’t be. I mean, you’re too short, and besides …”
    “Maybe you’re on to something, Muffin,” said Brutus. His eyes narrowed. “Was that
you
in that dress, Mack?”
    “The name’s Bob, sir, but yes … yes, it was,” said Bob.
    “Well, Bob,” said Brutus, “you looked great.”
    “Thanks,” said Bob.
“You
look great in doll clothes—especially that little blue bonnet.”
    “You