| Children Fiction posted March 24, 2025 |
  |
Sir Arthur's A Frog
F in the Alphabet Soup
by Begin Again
The raindrops splattered on the pond while Franny stood in the kitchen looking out, sad and bored. "Gram, why does it have to rain? I want to play outside."
"Farmers need the rain for the crops. And you love the garden. Or how about fishing or seeing the trees grow? None of that would survive without the rain."
"I know, but I want to have fun."
Gram stopped doing the dishes, wiped her hands on a towel, and brought a tray of cookies to the table before she sat on her chair. "You can still have fun, Franny. What about reading a book?"
"A book? That's for school, not fun."
"That's where you're wrong, child." Gram moved to the refrigerator, removed the milk carton, and poured two glasses. "Come sit and have some cookies."
She placed the glasses of milk on the table and then walked to the kitchen door, looking down the hallway. She even opened the basement door before returning to the table.
Franny stared at her grandmother with a quizzical frown. "What are you doing, Gram? Are you looking for something?"
Gram leaned close to Franny, laying her finger against her lips. "I'm going to tell you a secret, one I've never shared with anyone before."
"A secret! I love secrets. What is it?"
"Now, you must promise this is only between you and me."
"I promise!" She held up her hand, her little finger crooked. Pinky promise, Gram."
Gram hooked her finger around the little girl's pinky and smiled. "When I was about your age and looking for something to do, my mother sent me to the study to dust."
Franny groaned. "The study with all those rows of books. What a boring job."
"That's what I thought, too, but I was wrong." Gram looked around the room, making sure they were alone, before she whispered, "While I was dusting, the cover of a book caught my eye. A big green frog was sitting on a lily pad in a pond."
"Oh, Gram, why would I read about frogs when I could go outside and see them alive in our pond?"
"That's what I thought, too, so I returned the book to the shelf and continued dusting. But seconds later — I heard him."
"Heard who?"
"Well, I didn't know his name at the time, but later, I learned it was Sir Arthur Croakston. But I'm getting ahead of myself. While I was dusting, I heard him croaking, a loud, deep belching. You can imagine how surprised I was.
"There was a frog in the study?"
"Not just any frog, Franny. Sir Arthur was on a mission and needed my help."
Franny leaned closer, curious about what her grandmother would tell her. "Where did you find Sir Arthur? Was he outside?"
"No, no! The croaking was coming from the book. I picked it up and read the cover — The Secrets of Froggington. I was about to set it down when I heard the croak again, except this time it came from the book in my hand. Of course, I jumped and dropped the book on the floor. The pages fluttered, and my eyes widened in disbelief. Wearing a Top Hat and Tails, Sir Arthur hopped off the page and introduced himself. He was very British and in need of my help."
Franny gasped. "What did he need, Gram?"
ENDING 1 —
Gram dunked her chocolate cookie into her glass of milk, took a bite, and whispered, "He needed someone brave to help him find Queen Lily's crown." She paused and then said, "Wait here, Franny." She hurried from the kitchen and returned with a faded ribbon-tied package. Her fingers trembled as she unwrapped it and placed the contents on the table — the book, a dried lily pad, and a monocle.
"Oh, Gram, it's The Secrets of Froggington. Open it — I want to see Sir Arthur."
Gram's eyes clouded as she let her fingers wander across the book's cover. "I — I think he's gone, Franny. I shouldn't have gotten you so excited about the book. It hasn't made a sound for many, many years."
"He can't be! Did you ever find Queen Lily's crown? "
"We did, and I promised to return another day. But I guess time went on, I got older, and forgot about Sir Arthur until today. He's not here anymore."
"Oh, I bet he is!"
The doorbell rang. "Oh, that's my neighbor, Jane. I promised to help with her seedlings. Finish your milk and cookies, Franny. I won't be long."
Franny dunked her cookie in her glass but couldn't take her eyes off the book. Her fingers skimmed across the cover, touching the picture of the frog. She sighed. "I wish Gram's story was real."
She opened the book and, to her surprise, she heard a very loud CROAK!
Her back straightened, and her eyes widened like giant saucers.POOF! Sir Arthur hopped off the page, tipped his hat, and bowed gallantly. "My dear Franny! I was hoping Felicity's granddaughter would be as clever and curious!"
"You know my name?"
"Of course I do, my dear child. I've been waiting for your Gram to return, but alas, I fear she forgot to believe."
"No, she does believe. She told me about you."
Sir Arthur smiled. "She did? I thought by now she'd have forgotten. She was grand. Helped me round up a band of naughty toads and get Queen Lily's crown. The kingdom of Froggington has been forever grateful."
"Please, tell me the story."
"Well, I am a little busy, but I guess I can make it short."
"Yes, I want to hear about Gram's adventure. Was it fun?"
"It was scary at first. Felicity, your Gram, and I traveled through marshy meadows across a bridge of floating lily pads filled with fish with big gaping mouths and eyes that bugged out of their heads. They would have liked nothing better than to eat the likes of me."
"Oh, that would be scary." Franny pulled her chair closer to the table and leaned in to hear better.
"Your Gram found a big branch, and she slapped the water, making ripples, so the fish would swim away, allowing me to hop across to the other side."
"Wow, Gram saved your life. Who would have thought?"
"Oh, she did much more that day. She solved a riddle that the Wise Owl asked so we could learn of the Magical Forest. When we arrived at the gates, she outsmarted two bullfrogs, blocking our way. Once inside, a sassy group of snails pointed to the leader of the Mischief Toads and said that he had Queen Lily's crown."
"So you and Gram found it."
"Well, it wasn't quite that easy. You see, it was his birthday and he'd expected a party, but no one came. Your Gram got the idea to invite him to celebrate with Queen Lily. He liked the idea, and we all went to Froggington and danced, laughed, and drank bug-juice punch."
Franny wrinkled her nose. "Bug-juice, ew-w-w!"
Sir Arthur laughed. "It's really quite good."
"So what happened with the crown?"
"That's the best part. Because your Gram convinced everyone to be kind to each other, the Mischief Toad placed the crown on Queen Lily's head as a thank-you gift. Everyone cheered."
Hearing voices approaching, Sir Arthur bowed and hopped back onto the page. He placed something in Franny's hand and whispered, "Tell Felicity you and she are welcome to visit as long as you believe."
As the book closed, she opened her palm and saw a tiny frog pin resting there. Her face was glowing. "Looks like there's fun in books, after all. "I can't wait to find another adventure soon."
SECOND ENDING —
SECOND ENDING —
Gram hesitated. "Well, to tell the truth, I don't exactly know. I read many books, but they were about Princes and their white horses rescuing the damsels in distress. Frogs, even one wearing a Top Hat and Tails and speaking like an Englishman, sent chills down my spine.
Franny blinked. "You didn't help him?"
"No, I slammed the book closed."
"Did he leave? Gram, I'm sure he wouldn't have hurt you."
Gram wiped her hands on her apron. "I know, and I regretted doing it too." She sighed and continued, "I opened the book and stepped back, listening. But I didn't hear a thing."
Franny's eyes widened, and her mouth formed a big OH. Shivering, she asked, "Did you squash him inside the book?"
Gram patted her hand. "No, nothing gruesome like that. I guess I scared him away."
"Did you ever see him again?"
Gram gazed out the window at the rain. "I didn't see him again, though often I wished I had, but early in the mornings, while I lay in my bed, I would hear croaking and wondered if it was him."
"And what about the book?"
"I went back and found it on the shelf. Inside, I found a note."
"A note! From Sir Arthur? What did it say?"
Gram nibbled the corner of her cookie before she said, "It said someone had taken something from Froggington. Something important. And only someone from my world could give it back." She leaned closer. "He wanted me to write the name of someone I loved in his book."
Franny felt a shiver crawl down her spine. "Did you?"
"No." Gram's voice was barely a whisper now. "I got scared. I closed the book and locked it away. And I haven't touched it since."
The kitchen fell quiet. Outside, the rain tapped harder against the window, and thunder rumbled in the distance.
"I shouldn't have brought it up," Gram said quickly. "It's just an old story. Eat your cookies. I'll be right back."
Franny turned to the ribbon-tied package on the table. Slowly, she unwrapped it. The book was heavy and cold in her hands, and she opened the cover. All she saw were blank pages, except for one line, scrawled in dark green ink: "This time, bring the name."
Franny jumped back, but the book didn't move. The room stayed quiet. The lights flickered once, then held steady. She turned the page.
A drawing showed a small girl with curly hair standing in the middle of a foggy swamp. The girl looked like her.
In the corner of the illustration stood a frog in a top hat. Only — he wasn't smiling. His eyes were wide. Unblinking. And his shadow stretched long behind him — too long for a frog.
Franny snapped the book shut. She heard a strange sound. Behind her, something went plop.
She turned. A trail of wet, muddy footprints led from the back door to the table. Her gaze shifted to the book in her lap. Something strange had happened. It was damp.
She opened her hand, and a tiny lily pad rested in her palm. She took a deep breath and opened the cover of the book.
There stood a frog, at least she thought it was a frog, but he wore a long black cloak with a hood over his head. His eyes glowed an eerie orange and yellow. He carried a gnarled staff. His lips moved, "Were you expecting Sir Arthur?"
Franny heard a loud croak and then another and another — they sounded like hysterical laughs. Slamming the book closed, Franny ran down the hall, heart pounding, calling, "Gram! Gram!"
Gram met her halfway, arms open, eyes full of worry. "What is it, sweetheart? What happened?"
Franny threw herself into her arms, shaking. Gram held her tight, rocking her gently. After a long moment, Franny whispered, her voice barely a breath — "It wasn't Sir Arthur."
Gram's arms tightened just a little, and her voice came softer than ever, "Oh, dear —"
 Recognized |
You need to login or register to write reviews. It's quick! We only ask four questions to new members.
© Copyright 2025. Begin Again All rights reserved.
Begin Again has granted FanStory.com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
