A
Frog Prince's Diary
Jaden's diary
Day 15
Joseph helped set up a
short table in the woods near the well, then found cushions for
seats. I wrote the invitations, on paper that Joseph provided.
Although I was calling it my banquet, it was really Joseph's banquet.
He did far more for it then I did. But why shouldn't he? Isn't that
what brothers are for? To help one another. I thought the banquet was
gorgeous if I do say so myself. Low table, green cushions, leaf
decorations, wooden plates, dishes full of fruits, tall candles, fish
on leaf platters, gravy dressings. Yes, it was a simple but pretty
arrangement.
Greetings
to the King of the Northwood, and his daughter the beauteous Elaine,
I
the frog of the well in the woods, do request your company at a
banquet the following night, at the well, in thanksgiving for letting
me share two most delightful dinners with you in your charming
palace.
May
the stars shine favorably upon you,
Frog
The invitation was quite
glorious. Not even Elaine could say no to it. But apparently,
according to Joseph, she did. But the king accepted, so she had to
come anyway. So much to look forward too.
Day 16
What I would really like to
say is that the banquet was a success, that I am a man again and
about to have a happily ever after. But I'm stuck on reality. The
King, his daughter, three servants and four guards came to the
banquet. Of course Joseph was there too. The King was a well mannered
guest and thanked me properly. I saw to it that he got the best of
everything. Elaine was rude. She didn't speak to me at all. Every
time I looked at her, she would start talking to Joseph in the most
gushing manner. Disgusting! Couldn't she see that she was making my
brother uncomfortable? About half way through the dinner, Elaine
stood up. I braced myself. I could tell she was going to do something
mean, by the contemptuous look on her face.
“My dear father. And of
course you frog, this dinner has been quite delightful.” she said
said. Her father nodded. I scowled. They way she spoke, I could tell
she meant exactly the opposite.
“Of course, dear.” her
father said. Elaine tilted her nose even higher.
“I think that this is the
best moment, certainly most quaint and charming.” she continued. I
would have raised my eyebrows if I had any.
“Sit down, please.”
Joseph muttered.
“This is as I see the
perfect time to announce that I have decided to except Prince
Joseph's hand in marriage.” Elaine burst out, then she shot me a
triumphant look.
“Darling.” her father
cried proudly, he then kissed her and shook Joseph's hand. My brother
had a look of frozen horror on his face. I couldn't blame him. It has
got to be a man's worst nightmare to have it announced to the whole
world that you are going to get married, before you even realize it
yourself.
“How sweet!” I barked.
Well, that puts a damper on our plans! What is this girl trying to
do? Make me jealous? How come she keeps flirting with my brother
every time I look at her? Well, I wouldn't be surprised if Joseph is
gone by morning.
Day 17
Yesterday,
Elaine's announcement caught me off guard, and I was too busy playing
the host to think much about it. But after my guests left, the full
enormity of everything hit me like a ton of bricks, and I felt more
miserable then I had felt in a long time. Being a frog had been such
fun, but now I hated my wretched state. It meant that I would be
trapped as a frog forever. I could never marry the girl I loved. Not
that Elaine deserved to marry someone nice. Joseph most certainly
didn't deserve to be tied down to someone like her. All in all, it
was a very miserable night.
Day 18
I had
been expecting to see Joseph passing through on his way to escape
Elaine, and her ill-timed marriage plans. He finally passed through
today.
“Jaden?”
he screamed as he came storming towards the well. I hopped onto a
rock.
“Well?”
I asked.
“I
hate her!” he yelled, “I really, really do!”
“Then
don't marry her.” I suggested reasonably.
“But
she already told the entire world that I was going too.” he wailed.
“Her
father, three servants, four guards and myself are hardly the entire
world.” I said.
“Ugh!”
he moaned, “I want to marry someone I love.” Then he turned and
ran deeper into the forest, in what I could only except to be the
direction of home. I couldn't say I blamed him.
Joseph
was hardly out of sight, before it came to my attention, that having
a human around could be useful even if he was my brother. Together we
could come up with some plan for Elaine to change me back into a man.
I sighed. Joseph would probably insist that we find a more obliging
princess. It would make more sense. Elaine would never stoop to kiss
a slimey toad. UGH! Now I was calling myself a toad..
Day 19
Last
night, the perfect plan came to me. Elaine adored her golden ball.
All I had to do was steal it, hide it, then return it, when the
princess put out a reward. Unfortunately I was to small to fetch a
golden ball. I would have to find Joseph. So today I set out to look
for him.
Day 20
I never
did find Joseph, instead I found Jerome. My kid brother, his clothes
were all torn and ragged. He was obviously running amuck in the
forest to annoy his tutors and mother. He spotted me, and scooped me
up in his very dirty hands. I couldn't believe the fool was already
seven and ten years of age. He acted no more then four summers.
“Hello
lil' froggy!” he drawled. Wow, someone got it right.
“Don't
talk like a baby!” I ordered in my best older brother voice. Jerome
screamed and hurled me up into the air. I managed to grab a branch
and stop myself from falling to a very painful end.
“Jaden?”
Jerome asked slowly, “Is that you? Justin said you were a frog, but
I didn't believe him.”
“Justin
is an idiot!” I growled.
“He is
going to rescue the princess Eleanor!” Jerome said, “I just got
back from her castle! Really Jaden, you should see the hedge around
that place. I think it may improve Justin, just to cut through-”
“Stop
babbling!” I growled.
“Sorry.”
he muttered.
“Jerome,
where is Joseph?” I demanded.
“He is
visiting his love, who has twenty feet of hair!” Jerome said,
“Imagine that.”
“Twenty
feet of hair?” I repeated stupidly.
“Of
course.” he said. I sighed. Well then Joseph couldn't help me very
much. Jerome would have to do.
“I
need you to steal something for me.” I told him. Jerome's eyes
bulged and he looked like he was going to explode.
To Be Continued
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