Thanks!
Thanks, Welles!
From Chapter 4:
Susie said to Prince Henrick, ?and I suppose only a kiss will restore you to human form, right?? Prince Henrick croaked, ?Actually, a french kiss does the trick. You see, I?m a horny toad.? But all Susie heard was a small, guttural nee-deep from the Prince, for she was not versed in Amphibian. Gabriel blushed [saywhat] ; for some inexplicable reason, he understood the toad, and quickly translated and edited for Susie. ?Prince Henrick says that a kiss would be nice, especially from such a beautiful maiden, but a magic wand could also restore him.? Susie sighed silently. ?But where can we find a wand in this distressing toy shoppe.? Prince Henrick spoke up, ?There?s an Amazing Blackstone Sorcery-At-Home Kit, by Ronco, on the middle shelf in back. Perhaps there?s a magic wand in the box. My arms are too short and slimy to reach. Can you fetch it, Gabriel?? Just then, Gabriel wondered, ?Why is everyone in this adventure using British colloquialisms??? This is Northern New Jersey, for Chrissake! ?fetch?? ?versed?? ?popping off??? We?ve been speaking American for 300 years, even the author!? Gabriel blew away this revelation, and proceeded to rummage through the dusty shelves in back. A Lisa Hunrichs Silvey signature Frisbee...no. A paintball pistol...much as Gabriel wanted to try it out on Henrick, he continued his hunt. ?Ah, Sorcery-At-Home! Got it!? And with that, Gabriel tore open the box, and sifted through a maze of ropes cut to various lengths, an egg in a cup, tiny silver hoops...and at last, a magic wand.
Gabriel grasped the wand in his right hand and gave it a trial wave or two. ?Careful!?, cried Nathaniel, ?You don?t know whether it?s loaded or not!? ?Oh, don?t worry,? Gabriel replied reassuringly. ?It?s only plastic, and I don?t think it?s even got batteries in it. I think real magic wands have to come from branches of enchanted old trees or something.? At that point, Gabriel wished he had Transformations for Precocious Tikes 101 on his school curriculum. ?Give me a tap,? Henrick said to Gabriel. ?Well, alright,? Gabriel said with a touch of resignation. ?I guess anything?s better than being a toad.? ?I could become a Neo-Conservative,? Henrick muttered under his fly-tainted breath, not wanting to be overheard and stepped on.
With that, Gabriel graced Henrick?s forehead with the wand. And nothing happened. ?I think you have to point and right-click,? Henrick said dejectly.
My Best,
Gary Potter