Commander Toad and the Intergalactic Spy Page 2

Agent 007½

  climbs aboard the skimmer,

  bringing the ladder

  up with him.

  “Thanks, Cousin Hip”

  says the monster.

  “I hope I really am

  your cousin,”

  says Commander Toad.

  “You will soon know,”

  says the monster,

  grinning with 412 teeth.

  The skimmer lifts up

  to the ship.

  Once on board,

  the monster takes off

  his disguise.

  He takes off his horn.

  He takes off his hair.

  He takes off his hide.

  He is a tall

  and slim

  and handsome brown toad.

  Commander Toad

  puts his arm

  around Tip Toad.

  “See,”

  says the commander.

  “We look exactly alike.”

  Lieutenant Lily smiles.

  Mr. Hop shakes his head.

  Old Doc Peeper

  laughs out loud.

  “I do not think

  you look exactly alike,”

  says young Jake.

  Commander Toad

  looks at his cousin.

  He looks at himself

  in the mirror.

  “You are right,”

  says the commander.

  “We may look alike,

  but I am much better looking.”

  “Give me a minute,”

  says Tip Toad,

  “and I can be

  just as good looking as you.

  After all,

  I am

  a master of disguise.”

  They all laugh.

  Then young Jake

  sends the green ship

  into deep hopper space

  and they leapfrog

  across the galaxy

  from star to star to star.