Read Online Return to Sender by Kevin Henkes - Free Book Online Page B

was outlined in gold, and following it were more letters. They spelled “FROGMAN LIVES . . .”
    As big as a house.
    Written in gold.
    To last forever.
    â€œMom! Dad! Molly!” Whitaker cried as he ran into the kitchen. “Come here! Now!”
    The family, reacting to Whitaker’s excitement, hastily went out to the porch after him.
    Whitaker pointed to the tower.
    â€œOh, my word,” Mrs. Murphy said, squinting.
    â€œOh brother,” Mr. Murphy said, shaking his head.
    â€œWhat does it say?” Molly asked, jumping up and down.
    â€œIt says ‘FROGMAN LIVES . . .’” Whitaker replied proudly.
    â€œWhat are the three dots for?” Molly asked.
    â€œThat means on and on,” Mrs. Murphy answered.
    â€œOn and on,” Molly repeated. “And on and on and on.”
    The four of them just stayed there a while, wondering.
    After a minute or two, Whitaker noticed that the gold letters weren’t straight and even like the F. They didn’t look much different from the graffiti scrawled on the side of Horlick’s Bridge. In fact, this message and the ones on the bridge seemed more alike the longer he looked.
    Shoot, Whitaker thought, everything making sense all at once. Everything. There was no wondering now. He kicked the porch railing, feeling that he had been tricked. Not liking it. Crazy old mailman.
    Then he remembered Molly. And how he always played along with the idea of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. “Helping her grow up,” his parents called it. And maybe, Whitaker thought, this is the same kind of thing. Only with Barney doing the “helping.” Not me. Crazy old Barney.
    Suddenly a smile broke across Whitaker’s face. I know, he thought, I won’t even let on to Barney. Just let him think I believe. Good old Barney.
    â€œYou’re going to write to Frogman again, aren’t you?” Molly asked anxiously, now totally convinced of Frogman’s existence and his presence in Franklinville. “Aren’t you?”
    A long silence passed before Whitaker answered.
    â€œI doubt it,” he finally said, smiling. “I don’t have to anymore.”

Read on for a preview of Junonia

    When Alice Rice and her parents were halfway across the bridge, Alice felt strange. Her breath caught high in her chest and she became light-headed. It seemed as though there wasn’t enough air in the car.
    â€œLook,” said Alice’s mother from the front seat. “It’s beautiful.”
    â€œAs always,” said Alice’s father. He was driving. He slowed the silver rental car. “What do you think, Alice?”
    The sun was blazing. The water—beneath and beyond them—glinted wildly. Seconds earlier, Alice had been thinking that the surface of the water was like glossy, peaked blue-green icing sprinkled with truckloads of sugar. Now, she had to remind herself to breathe. She was dizzy and slightly afraid. Her hands were clenched. What was wrong? This had never happened to her before. She’d always loved the bridge, loved the feeling of being suspended, like a bird, between the mainland and the island.
    â€œAlice?”
    The sensation passed as quickly as it had come. “Beautiful,” Alice finally said, relieved. “I wonder who’ll see the first dolphin this year.”
    â€œI don’t know,” said Alice’s father, “but there’s the first pelican.” He pointed. To the left of the car and not much higher glided a big, drab, knobby bird.
    â€œThey look prehistoric to me,” said Alice’s mother.
    Alice concentrated entirely on the pelican. The bird was so odd and silly looking, a mysterious, mesmerizing wonder. Alice reached out, pressing her palms flat against the half-opened window. She’d seen pelicans before, every year that she had been here, but when you see something only once a year it’s always new, as if you’re seeing