Of Frogs and Lovers Read online

soft and feminine voice spoke from the counter. Turning, Sid found himself staring straight at Emma. 'And I think that the weather is just lovely,' Emma said. 'All morning, I have been looking out the window and across at the park. All the ducks are having a lovely time there, waddling about in the rain, and swimming in the pond.'

  'Phooey!' The old woman snorted. 'Who could possibly love a duck, with its funny webbed feet?'

  'I think we'll have to agree to disagree on that one,' Emma said. 'I think webbed feet are beautiful. Now, Sid Sharp, isn't it? You're next.'

  Sid felt his heart flutter. Emma knew his name. 'Don't look so surprised,' Emma said. 'I know you. We used to go to the same school. Then your parents died and you moved away.'

  Sid stared at Emma in amazement.

  'You wouldn't remember me,' Emma said. 'I was always very plain and unmemorable.'

  How was it possible, Sid wondered, for someone as lovely as Emma to think that they were unmemorable? He could remember her quite well, the only other kid in his class who could name all of the actors who had played the part of The Doctor on Doctor Who. And even back then, Sid could never quite get up the nerve to talk to her.

  Sid walked toward the counter. This took a while, as his feet were feeling a bit heavier than usual and rather uncomfortable inside his sneakers. When he got to the counter, Sid began to fumble with the lock on his briefcase. This took a while, as his hands felt somewhat slippery.

  'Is everything all right, Sid?' Emma asked.

  'Yes,' Sid croaked, even though, clearly, he was not all right.

  'Are you sure? You seem to be looking a bit green around the gills ?'

  Emma's voice trailed off. Both she and the counter seemed to be growing much larger in size. It was either that, Sid realised, or that he was shrinking. Behind him, from the queue, the old lady let out a shriek.

  'What on earth is that ugly thing? It's a frog. No, it's far too ugly to be a frog. It's a toad, for sure.'

  'Don't be horrible,' Emma said, as she walked around from the counter. Gently, she cupped Sid in her hands. 'Just look at you Sid, you poor thing.'

  'Poor thing!' The old lady snorted. 'That thing is disgusting.'

  'Oh, shut up.' Emma rolled her eyes. 'I think we've heard just about enough from you. Now, what about you Sid? How are we going to fix ? Excuse me!' For once, Emma's voice became loud enough for the entire post office to hear. 'Does anyone know how to cure a man who has just been turned into a frog?'

  'I do.' A short man with a moustache pushed his way forward. 'I'm a veterinarian and I've seen a few cases of this in my time. What this man, or frog as he is now I suppose, needs is a kiss.'

  'A kiss?'

  The old lady snorted. 'Who'd want to kiss that horrible thing?'

  'I thought I told you to shut up,' Emma said. 'Now, you think that a kiss would cure poor Sid here?'

  'Yes.' The veterinarian nodded. His expression was quite thoughtful and serious as he twiddled with his moustache. 'But that kiss can only come from his true love.'

  'Well, that settles that then.' The old lady snorted again. 'Someone as ugly as all that is never going to have a true love.'

  'And it's a pity that some people can't take a hint.' Emma fixed her eyes firmly on the old lady for a moment or two, before turning back to the veterinarian. 'How are we going to find Sid's true love, though?'

  'You could kiss him.' The old lady said. 'Go on. Why don't you put your money where your mouth is, you silly little thing.'

  'And that,' Emma sighed, 'Is the first sensible thing that you've said all morning, you horrid old wench. I'll kiss Sid.'

  Emma raised Sid toward her mouth. She puckered her pink stained lips and pressed them to his smooth green skin. There was a strange popping sound and, startled, everyone in the post office watched as the frog vanished and Sid appeared once again. (After all, it wasn't every day that a man turned himself into a frog inside the post office and was then turned back again. Although, that said, a week ago someone else had turned into a chicken, but that is another story ?)

  'Emma.'

  'Sid.'

  Both Emma and Sid stared at one another. Each felt slightly astonished at the recent turn of events.

  'You kissed me,' Sid said.

  'I know,' Emma said.

  'Does this mean ?' Sid stared at Emma, his face filled with hope.

  'I suppose so,' Emma said.

  'Well,' Sid said.

  'Well,' Emma said.

  'This is strange,' Sid said. 'For the first time in my life ? well, I mean for the first time since my aunt died, I feel happy.'

  'This is strange,' Emma said. 'For the first time in my life ? I feel beautiful.'

  'But ? you always were beautiful.'

  Sid stared at Emma in astonishment.

  'Oh, give me a break.' The old woman snorted. 'Just listen to the two of you, getting all soppy with each other. Makes me sick, it does.'

  'Shut up!'

  Both Sid and Emma glared at the old woman.

  Standing beside the old woman, the veterinarian began to laugh. 'There is only one catch to all of this,' he said. 'For the kiss to work, and for Sid not to turn into a frog again, the two of you must get married.'

  'Oh, of course!' Emma said, while Sid simply smiled. For even if he was to turn into a frog again, he knew that the rest of his life would be a happy one, for he had been kissed by his true love, Emma.

  About the Author.

  Kathryn White was born in 1981 and grew up on the south coast of Adelaide. A passionate writer, she was first published at age 17 and later graduated from Flinders University with a BA (Hons.) Kathryn has independently published a variety of novels and is happiest when she is using her writing to explore new concepts, dysfunctional relationships and viewing life from the perspective of people who do not quite fit in with their world in one way or another. Kathryn also runs a successful book review website titled Kathryn's Inbox, which is updated daily.

  Blog: https://kathrynwhiteauthor.blogspot.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynwhiteauthor

  Twitter: @kathrynsinbox

  Also by Kathryn White

  Behind the Scenes

  Best Forgotten

  Cats, Scarves and Liars

  Poison Ivy

  Twins (Short)

  The Abigail Carter Books

  Everybody Hates Abigail

  Being Abigail

  Shopping and Lies (Short)