The Princess' Frog
The girl was a princess, and a typical princess at that. The jewelry, fine clothes, curled hair, and cosmetics made her beautiful. She lacked a good education in just about everything except on how to be a proper lady. In other words, she wasn't terribly bright.
She lived each day almost exactly the same. After lunch she would visit the courtyard, to sing to herself and sit among the flowers. Sitting prettily she was good at, singing she was not. And it just so happened that one day her awful cracking voice became attractive to at least one being in the world.
A simple green spotted frog visited the garden pond on a late-summer day, throwing himself among the decorative lily pads with a heavy little splash. He kicked his slender legs and circled the edge before settling himself on the middle of a floating green pad.
It was then that the girl appeared, dripping with vanity as she toyed with a curl of gold hair, and strutting with exaggerated grace. She moved slowly between the diverse petals, and occasionally bent forward to caress one. The frog did not see her, his vision poor in comparison to that of a human's. He also did not feel her feet as they lightly touched the earth. But he did detect her presence when she sat perched on the edge of a flat pond-side boulder, and began her hoarse singing.
The frog lifted his sticky feet and made an awkward turn in her direction. He blinked once and watched, hearing her voice perfectly through ears adapted to listening for the mating and territorial calls of the frog. A tiny fly blundered by a millimeter in front of his snout, but he ignored it.
The girl crossed her legs and twirled a rope of hairs with her index finger. She moved her rich lips delicately as she sang a new song from the court musician, and hummed over parts of the lyrics she had forgotten.
The frog hesitated, then squeezed the muscles in his hind legs. He sprang forward with stubby front arms outstretched, and landed with a plop on the princess' knee. She abruptly choked on her singing and gawked at the frog. He tilted his face up and gawked back.
"Gree-eek," the green frog proclaimed.
The girl made a small sound of approval. "What a dear little thing. And so friendly, too. Did you like my singing?"
To her delight, the frog made a clumsy nod.
"In that case, I think I'll sing some more."
So the girl went through her favorite song with the frog perched on her right knee. He listened patiently, and occasionally added his own hoarse voice to the tune.
At last when the duet was compete, the girl smiled at the frog. "Such an amazing little thing. Let us sing again tomorrow. I must go now!"
With her farewell, she scooped the frog up and without thinking twice, closed her eyes and planted a small kiss on his snout.
BAM! Suddenly there was a weight on her lap. She opened her eyes and screamed.
There was a man dressed elegantly, who quickly climbed off her lap. "You amazing girl, you saved me from the curse!"
"Where is the frog?!" she yelped in a panic. "The frog!"
The man tilted his head, then laughed. "The frog is no more! I was the frog."
"Oh no no no," the girl moaned. "Not you! Get out of here. This ruins all, for I am in love with the frog!"
~Emily K
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