Mama wasn’t home, but Dad was in his recliner. I was just trying to be polite.”įor the first time, Leonie went home early. The frog jumped off and turned to glare at her. “I don’t know if I can be a princess tonight. I’d let you take it for a ride if you were my princess.” I have a white horse, and it’s a purebred Arabian. “What do you mean, you’re okay? I’m a prince. The frog’s cheeks puffed up like Leonie’s Uncle Ted during Thanksgiving. I’m a talking frog, and for one kiss I could become a prince. Even then, Leonie knew there was a story about a frog who was a prince. She skipped most of the stories about princesses, but she told her stories like Little Red Riding Hood or The Three Bears. “I know what a frog is, I just haven’t seen a talking frog is all.” I don’t mean to be rude, but are you a frog?” “I would remember seeing someone like you. His eyes were shiny, like prized marbles. He hopped onto the buttons of her yellow shirt. “I said, do you come here often? I haven’t seen you before.” He was mud brown but smooth, like Laura Lynn chocolate icing. Leonie was sitting in the creek, burying imaginary pearls, when she dug up a frog. Best Leonie could describe it was like when you bit into a crisp apple, but your whole body felt it. There’s something about wading knee-deep in a cold creek. The creek wasn’t big or deep, but Leonie could still get lost in it. ![]() Leonie couldn’t put into words why she liked the woods. If she could sleep in her own room, being awake and alone was a lot less scary. Besides, Leonie figured she already spent a lot of time alone. Leonie always heard birds chittering, found beetles clinging to her pants, and had the occasional staring contest with a deer. ![]() Though the woods weren’t far from her house, Mama always worried about her going alone. Leonie climbed under the unfinished chain link fence and moseyed up an old trail into the woods. It was a Thursday and her dad always played poker on Thursdays. Mama had sent her out to play before Dad got home. The first time happened when she was seven. Leonie was no longer surprised when frogs proposed to her.
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