The Frog Story: A Reunion To Remember

The following story was related to me by my family. This familial anecdote occurred before my birth so I will write to the best of my ability and recollection of the story, taking dramatic liberties when needed.

A long long loooooong time ago, before the era of Imadork, existed my family. This dark age sans me seems unimaginable now but please try to comprehend it. My family consisted of my mother, father, sister and two brothers. Yes, I am the youngest of four but enough about me. This story takes place BD (Before Dork), so quit asking about me!

It was a lovely and bright Texan summer circa 1970 BD when my sister rushed excitedly into my parent's lonely dark house. The house lacked something of which my parent's could not quite grasp. This barren so-called home was much like the Land of Nod, east of Eden. Not to worry though, in August of 1973 the light will not only shine down on this house but also glow from within when BD turns to AD.

Anyway, my sister skips delightfully from the bright outdoors into the dark corridors of my parent's home holding in her hands something she wants to show mommy and daddy. Mom and Dad, waking from their dreamless sleep, arose begrudgingly to the sounds of the little brat squealing about one thing or another. They look at each other and an unspoken communication passes between them. There has to be something, or someone, better than this.

My sister reaches my parents and shows them what she has found. It's a tiny baby frog. By now, my brothers have been alerted by the ruckus and the two imps shuffle in Quasimodo-like fashion to the origin of the din.

"Can I keep it", my sister pleads.

"I'm sorry, we just can't. It will die here in the darkness of our lair, dear", my mother said. "We need to return it to the sunlight of the outside world. There, it's mommy will take it far away from this place of woe."

Together, this pseudo-family walk toward the front foyer. They open the door, shielding their eyes from the brightness of the sun much like the nuclear scientists did when testing the atomic bomb. After a moment of acclimation they step outside, tiny frog in the hands of my sister.

My father kneels, "Let it go dear. It has to leave this place that God has forgotten. It's mommy will find it. Don't worry".

My sister opens her hands and releases the captive baby frog. It hops away toward the yellow withered grass of the front lawn. Just then, a bigger frog hops within sight.

"Look, the mommy frog is coming to get her baby," my mother said.

A rare smile comes to the faces of the family. My parents and three siblings all gather 'round to see the reunion of the mother and its baby. They were happy that the baby frog would not have to fend for itself. The baby and adult frog hopped closer together like some hokey slow motion reunion scene in a cheesy movie.

This lovely scene quickly turned to horror as the big frog's tongue darted out, hooking the tiny baby and sucking it into it's mouth. The adult frog gobbled up the baby right in front of my sibs, who were now screaming in horror at this reunion gone bad.

Heads downcast, their happiness thwarted yet again, my family turns toward the house and with heavy sighs, retreat into their darkened den to await the next flicker of glee which will not come for another three years. Fortunately, that glee will be much more lasting.

They will live happily ever after...eventually.