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Sunday, April 8, 2012

The Reluctant Prince

 
We get Sundays off on the A-Z Challenge, but since I try to post every day, I'll bring you a Modern Fairy Tale from Saturday.

Once upon a time, there was a common gray tree frog, minding its own business. And yet, this was a slightly ditzy Hyla versicolor, prone to making less than perfect decisions. However, in its defense, it had never been accused of being OCD.

The frog's name was Post-it. Mama had once gotten lost in an office and had taken note of potential names for sticky things. It was always so difficult to name several thousand babies every spring! Generally, mother frogs don't get too involved with their babies, but this mother was trying hard to be a super-mom. She'd listened to the boastings of several, that day in the office.

That said, Post-it wasn't exactly the roundest egg in the mass.

On the day of Post-it's adventure (if it wasn't all a bad dream), he was sleeping peacefully on the end of a roll of plastic that seemed something like a tree. It was growing out of a small pond surrounded by plastic. The pond was in a dark, damp building which made it pretty safe, under most conditions. Post-it later regretted that he had felt too lazy to change his colors so that he blended in better.

Because all of a sudden he felt himself flying into the air. He'd never taken that long of a jump before, and it was scary. Then... instead of his cool, dark sleeping spot, he found himself out in the bright sunshine. He had no idea how he'd gotten here.

gray tree frog

But at least he wasn't falling. He was sitting on something warm. Oh, and light colored. He was supposed to try to change colors. "If only I'd paid better attention in versicolor school," he thought. But it was just too much trouble.

It briefly crossed his mind that if he'd followed the teacher's advice to sit on trees he would have been nearly invisible. He blinked and looked around.

gray tree frog

"Hmm, something nearby with eyes, too. But it's too nice a day to get worked up about it. I wonder if it eats frogs? Maybe I should think about that."

Post-it didn't have very long to think because suddenly he was turned over on his back. He'd never liked that position much, but he held on tight. Post-it was nothing if not sticky! That warm thing he'd been sitting on changed shape and pulled his legs out straight. That would scare it off. It would see those yellow flashes and become alarmed!

gray tree frog

And it worked! After a few frightening minutes, the big thing let go of his legs and let him settle into a more natural position.

gray tree frog

Then, the big thing lifted him up high (well, that was ok, he was a tree frog after all) and tried to kiss him. Yuck! What was the big thing thinking? He tried so hard to remember his lessons.

Oh yes, there was one about the dangers of kisses from monsters. They could change a nice wet froggy into something called a prince. The pictures in the story books had looked awful! Princes had to walk on two legs and cover their nice moist skin with something called clothes. He was glad he remembered that. There was no way he was going to let the monster kiss him.

gray tree frog

Safe. Post-it was safe. The monster had returned him to his plastic tree in his plastic pond. Being lazy hadn't worked out so bad. Maybe it had all been a dream. Maybe that last fly had been an hallucinogenic. Whatever.

Post-it had a secret anyway. He couldn't be a prince. The monster hadn't noticed his white chin. Post-it was a girl!

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19 comments:

Luana Krause said...

Hi, Sharkbytes: The A to Z challenge is a lot fun. Happy posting!

Sarah Tokeley said...

Fantastic pictures to go with your happy-ever-after story :-)

OT Ebby said...

Thanks for visiting my blog. I like the froggy story!

Ebby

Betty Alark said...

Greetings, Sharkbytes!

Really like your blog- very creative! Great pictures!

I'll be back! Hope your being challenged!

http://bettyalark.blogspot.com/

Lin said...

Oooooh, she's a BEAUTY!! You know I loved today's post!! :)

I love the yellow legs--amazing what nature does, isn't it???

CLR said...

Thank you for dropping by and commenting on my picture! It has been fun on the A-Z train and I look forward to the rest of the month!

Great post! Creative!

www.hammockinthehoneysuckle.blogspot.com

Carrie

Joyce Johnson said...

Lovely post and frog pictures are wonderful!


A to Z challenge
http://thewritejoyce.blogspot.com

Georgina Morales said...

What a cute little story. I loved it! Thanks for stopping by my place, I'll keep coming to look for more awesome writing.

From Diary of a Writer in Progress

Michelle aka Naila Moon said...

Ha ha ha-I loved your story about Post-it. I want more!
Thanks for coming by today.

~Naila Moon

PS>Totally following. :)

http://yaknowstuff.blogspot.com/2012/04/h.html

Ann said...

what a great story. Lucky post it didn't get that kiss, I hear princes are highly over rated :)

Nancy Thompson said...

Welcome to the A to Z. It's a mighty big challenge! It's nice to meet you! I'm a new follower via the A to Z.

john bain said...

I'm trying to figure out what that damp dark building was.

Unknown said...

Thanks for visiting my blog. I loved your story....very creative

Chuck said...

That was a very entertaining story! I knew I'd find good things coming back here.

Dawn said...

Loved your frog blog Joan!

Anonymous said...

lol - LOVED the post!! The pics were great as well!!

Elisabeth, Fellow A-Z Blogger

Margo Berendsen said...

Finally, the fairy tale told from the frog's point of view - and now I know (at least for this species) how to tell a girl frog!

T'Laina said...

Adorable, and a great story! I read it about three times, it's just so cute.

- T'Laina

Dawn M. Hamsher said...

Don't kiss it! LOL.

Fun post.

The Write Soil
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