One of my daughter’s friends passed away in the night.
It came upon suddenly, and her biggest regret was in not having a chance to say goodbye.
But it wasn’t a person.
And it wasn’t a pet, either.
Her friend was a frog. Technically speaking, it was a toad.
But a toad can’t be a prince under a spell.
So let’s say he was a prince under a spell to look like a frog who was then put under a spell to look like a toad.
So he was an enchanted Frog Prince.
He was a faithful and good friend.
He would come out when my daughter went outside to sit under the stars and clouds and falling flower pedals and swarms of mosquitoes.
He wouldn’t say much. Sometimes he’d chirp in that toad-y sort of way, but never impolitely.
But he was a good listener.
She would say “Hi” to him when he hopped over to her when he saw her sit down. She would say other things to him too. But I don’t know what. That’s between the two of them.
He knew she was safe to be with. Likewise for her.
Sometimes the dog would come out and start to investigate with his big black sniffy nose.
My daughter would shoo him away (although the loves the dog, too).
The Frog Prince would relax once the muscle-bound mass of claw and huffiness went exploring elsewhere.
She took care of him like that.
Once he came round with another froggy friend to introduce the two.
When I heard that, I said, “See? He trusts you so much he introduced his little froggy wife.”
“Great.” said my daughter, grinning, “even my Frog Prince has a wife. Story of my life!”
Ha 😀
Last night, my daughter went outside like she usually does.
The Frog Prince did not hop up to her like he usually did.
Something wasn’t right.
Then she saw. His spirit had left him.
But before he left the Earth, he went to the spot where the two of them spent many an evening under the stars.
My daughter cried.
But this story may not yet be over.
Next to the Frog Prince sat a little replica of himself.
A baby Frog Prince.
Technically not a baby (as that would be a tadpole) but small enough to qualify as a ‘baby’.
He looked lonely, and lost.
My daughter’s son and I said our goodbyes today, with a proper burial in the back yard.
Next to a turtle from years past, and I think also a little bird, as well.
The grandson is learning that things who live will get old and then die. He says, “they get olk, then die, gwumpa? You get olk too?”
Sometimes they don’t get a chance to get olk before they die. But that’s a different lesson, and not for today.
I hear the chirping of frogs (toads) outside tonight as they relish the rainy season that’s hit our area.
I hear the buzzing of the insects who will nourish these little Princes.
Will a new friend come round tonight for my daughter to protect and keep company?
We’ll see.
Looks like rain tonight. A good night for Princes.
Photo credit: massdistraction