And so it was that Charles held the toad carefully in his lap on the way to Mrs. Street's. However, somehow the toad escaped, something I realized when it came hopping into the front seat to join me. I yelled in a surprised manner, as this is a very helpful way of dealing with unexpected animals in the car. I was not interested in squished frog on the brake or gas pedal, so I immediately pulled the car over and walked around to the passenger side. I cautiously opened the door not wanting the toad to jump out, and trying to be prepared for anything. I was imagining the family piling out to search the forest with Charles wailing at me in the background, and Oliver reproaching me for losing Charles' bestest frog.
I opened the door and there the frog was clinging to the side of it for dear life, all stretched out. Were I not so worried about it jumping away, I would have enjoyed seeing how long it was capable of holding that position. As it was, I quickly grasped it, and a REPULSIVE shudder ran through my entire body. My first reaction was to throw the thing from me, but then I had some presence of mind and remembered that we would be back where we started, a loose toad in the car. So I remained calm, toad in hand, and handed it to Charles.
As I climbed back into the drivers seat, I reflected on what mothers do for their sons. Charles had a very pleased grin- I think he was also worried I might lose the toad forever in the woods on the side of the road, and we delivered it to Mrs. Street. Actually her son took custody of it. Charles remarked that the toad looked to be losing weight and was in desperate need of some crickets. He was assured that his toad would be feed promptly and well cared for.
On a very happy note, the toad will be visited by Charles on Tuesday mornings, and I won't have a toad living in my laundry room or Suburban, for that matter.
1 comment:
oh man. that charles. he is going to be an entymologist for sure.
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