For Evan Porte Thomas and again of course for Julia B A P To the memory of my mother’s beloved toads potatoes and potato-print toads and to Doug T one of the young folk who scientists hope will sign up A C
In this fish tank lives a tadpole named Fred Every day Francine feeds him fish food and waits for his feet to come in It’s what they told her to do at the nature center
It could take a long time Francine’s mother says You have to be patient says Francine’s father I’ve heard of frogs turned into princes just because some princess kissed them Francine’s older sister tells her
Of course she means in fairy tales Have you tried kissing Fred she asks Francine ignores her But every day she watches Fred to see if something’s happened
