The Awfully Angry Ogre Read Online Free PDF Page A

daughter into the shack. Its roof beams towered above the princesses, but the ogress could barely stand without hitting her head. A gigantic iron kettle hung in the fireplace, but to the princesses’ relief, the ogress showed no intention of cooking and eating them.
    In fact, lunch turned out to be vegetable soup and bread. Tansy put down her flute to eat. Afterward, the ogress showed them the huge garden behind her house. It was filled with carrots, potatoes, peas, and tomatoes—and all kinds of flowers.
    Motioning to Tansy to play her flute again, the ogress asked, Why do humans hate ogres?
    They’re afraid of you, thought Lysandra.
    They don’t understand you, thought Fatima.
    They think that you start fires and steal their sheep, thought Tansy. And that maybe you’ll eat them!
    The ogress’s furry eyebrows drew together. But I don’t even eat meat! she thought. Can you tell them that?
    We can try, thought Elena.
    The princesses smiled at one another. Tansy was sure they were all thinking the same thing: Not only was the ogre an ogress , but she was a vegetarian, too!
    The ogress’s daughter had been playing in the garden, digging in the dirt with a stick. Now she ran up to her mother and hugged her. The ogress glanced down at her daughter’s leg, which showed no trace of its earlier wound. You are the first humans to be kind to us, she thought. I wish there was something I could do for you.

    Tansy’s heart skipped a beat, but she kept on playing. Perhaps there is something you could do, she thought. Those stone statues…could you make them human again?

8
Back to the Castle
    T HROWING BACK HER SHAGGY HEAD, THE OGRESS roared so loudly, the princesses’ ears rang. How can you ask me that? she thought. Those men tried to kill my daughter!!
    I know. Tansy gulped. But two of those men are my brothers .
    The ogress frowned. Then I am sorry for you.
    Please give them a second chance, pleaded Tansy. We can explain what we’ve learned about you. We can make sure no one ever bothers you again.
    The ogress’s frown deepened. I’d like to believe you, but how can I take the chance? You don’t look much older than my daughter. Why would other humans listen to what you say?
    Tansy straightened her shoulders and nodded toward her friends. Because we’re princesses . My father is king of Majesta. He has never believed the rumors the villagers spread about you. If you free the men, the villagers will see you mean no harm. My father will give you his protection.
    The ogress cast a glance over her garden and home. And my daughter and I can stay here as long as we want? No one will try to make us leave?
    Tansy nodded. I promise .
    The ogress sighed heavily. All right . Wait here . She lumbered into the shack, returninga few minutes later with a small cloth pouch. She handed the pouch to Tansy. There’s powder inside. Throw a tiny pinch over each statue’s head.
    Tansy’s face lit up. Thank you so much! I promise you won’t regret this. The ogress’s hand was too large to shake, so she squeezed one of her fingers instead.
    The ogress and her daughter waited inside their shack while Tansy and her friends raced down to the well. Tansy opened the pouch, drew out a pinch of the powder, and threw it over James’s head. Flecked with gold and silver, the powder sparkled as it fell. Immediately the granite melted into warm, rosy flesh.
    Still on his knees, James glanced up in confusion at Tansy and the other princesses. Then he leaped to his feet, his cheeks redwith embarrassment. “I…uh…I was looking for something. A…a… rock to throw at the ogre,” he stammered. “Hey—what are you doing here? And what are those funny purple things you’re wearing over your eyes?”
    â€œWe’ll explain in a minute,” said Tansy. “But first we need to free the others.” She opened the pouch wide so she and her