Words of Mine ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Wishes 2nd day of lunar cycle “Ask a toad what beauty is . . . His female, with two large round eyes sticking out of her little head, a large and flat snout, a yellow belly, a brown back.” -- Voltaire, Philosophical Dictionary Three Wishes “Three wishes you say?” “Yes, you can have three wishes,” the wee creature said to me. It all began when I was out walking around my neighborhood. As I neared the wooded area I heard a small voice yelling for assistance. It was hard to tell where it was coming from it was so faint. I walked along the waterfront. “No, no, you’re going the wrong way!” I barely heard this and turned around and backtracked. I’m looking in the trees, under the leaves, in and around the rocks but still could not find the owner of the voice requiring help. “All right then, keep talking to me. Describe what’s around you.” I asked. “I’m to your left, just at your shoulder level. Do you see me?” I’m looking around. I see trees: firs, a stump of an elm and eucalyptus. I hear the waves washing up on shore. “Hmm,” closing my eyes, I see a firtree on my left and there on a branch wrapped I fishing wire is a frog. I open my eyes and look to my left and yes, there he was. A beautiful green frog tied to the branch with fishing wire. “How on earth did you get in this predicament? Other than tree frogs and you don’t look like a tree frog, how did you get into this tree and wrapped up with fishline?” Oh, don’t be asking all these questions,” he replied, “just get me out of here.” I could have taken his attitude personally but considering the circumstances, I’d probably have an attitude as well. “Okay, hold still. The easiest is for me to cut this line than to unwind it.” I always have blade with me and I began cutting the line. In no time the frog was sitting on a rock across from me relating his tale. “Here I was minding my own business enjoying the weather. The water at the edge was just warm enough and besides looking for food I was hoping to meet a young lady frog.” “It felt like a lucky day or so I thought. I’m sitting on this rock enjoying the sunshine and I hear a fly buzzing nearby. Hmm, a snack. I watch the fly and just as I snatch for that fly, this fishing wire comes out of no where and wraps around my tongue. Do you know how hard it is to talk with your tongue stretched a foot beyond your mouth?” “No, I can’t say I’ve had that experience before. But carry on with your story.” “Well, as I was saying, my tongue is pulled tight and I’m trying to extricate myself when this horrid child appeared from around the rocks carrying several other frogs. I think I saw my aunt in the group but there wasn’t time to find out.” “What saved me was the number of frogs the little wretch had so he tied me to the tree branch and said he’d be back later to get me. Oh the thoughts that went through my head. The horror of it all. I’ll have nightmares for a week.” “So for rescuing me, I’ll grant you three wishes. What do you want?” “Well, I don’t really want for much. I would have helped you even without the wishes.” “But fair is fair,” the frog said. “Okay, my first wish is . . . you won’t be harassed by little boys anymore. You will be invisible to them.” “That’s awfully nice of you. What’s your second wish?” “Hmm, let me think. I would wish to meet you here every day and talk about life and have a spot of lunch: flies for you and mice for me.” “Gee, you’re not asking for the kinds of things most folks ask for. You’re an unusual creature. What’s your last wish?” Taking time for thought, the frog didn’t seem to be phased by my wishes. Was I all that different from others? “After giving it some thought, for my last wish I’ve decided I would like to lick, er, I mean kiss you. You are a handsome frog you know. “Well, that is a most unusual request but I guess I can grant this wish.” The frog came near. A kiss was close at hand. Tongues came forward to meet in mid air. They touch; a kiss is but a kiss. I jumped quickly and swallowed the frog headfirst with nothing but legs kicking from my mouth. I can hear the frog croaking angrily. It would be so easy to finish the swallow but I won’t. One heave, just like a hairball, the frog reappears on the rock across from me. Sputtering, angry, “what did you do that for?” “Because I could and to teach you not to be so trusting, even of cats who do a you a good deed.” With that, I went back to my walk looking for an unwary mouse. I do like mice better than frogs. Meow! 5:51 p.m. - Monday, Feb. 03, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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