By: Sarah Bolis

Long, long ago in the small town of Bayonne there lived a young man named Simon Gallagher who was twenty five years of age. Simon had everything women were looking for, the rugged handsome look with cool green eyes and black hair, and a good hard earned education in business. However, Simon was a conceited person and his behavior sometimes scandalized his mother.

Now out of college, and also the new owner of Judicke’s Bakery, Simon was ready to please his mother Evelyn, and settle down. Every time he heard his mother talk about “settling down” and “marriage”, he had this uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach. He didn’t really believe in true love, and has never really paid much attention to women, even though some considered him to be a womanizer. Then something unusual happened to change all that.

After reviewing the accounts of the bakery late one night, Simon decided to drive to Hudson Park to sit by the pond for an hour before going home. He loved being able to do what ever he wanted, and always thought that if he did have a wife he would have to go straight home. Freedom was something to be treasured and no woman is going to make him sacrifice that.

While sitting on the bench he thought he heard a woman scream for help in the pond. He got off the bench, and quickly ran toward the pond. The moon’s light was shinning on the surface of the water which made it easier to spot the woman. Simon kicked off his expensive Italian shoes and dived in to save her. He swam under to see if she was there, but all he found was a small pendant on a gold chain. Swimming up to take a breath, he looked around for her in panic. Then he felt someone touch his back. The hairs on his neck stood on end at the slight touch. Turning around he found himself looking at her.

She was beautiful with golden brown hair, blue green eyes that captivated, and the light radiating from her made his eyes squint. He was speechless, and couldn’t bring himself to talk to her. She looked at him with a slight smile tugging at her lips. He felt she could see through him and had this feeling that she knew what he was thinking.

He found his voice “I heard you cry for help”. He remembered the pendant, and lifted it up towards her. “Is this yours?”

She shook her head and said “No, it’s yours”.

Without warning her mouth was on his, and he found himself in a kiss that electrified every part of his body. She muttered words against his mouth that he couldn’t make out, and he felt that something changed about him. The kiss ended and sensations were coursing throughout his body. He looked at his legs and noticed that his legs were turning into what looked like a frog’s webbed feet. Staring at his hands he noticed the webbed fingers. He couldn’t believe he was turning into a frog. In that moment the transformation ended and the pendant slid out of his grip landing on the bottom[MAG1] of the pond.

The mysterious woman put him on a big lily pad that could support his weight. He noticed that all he could say was “ribbit”, and looked at her in confusion. Before he could say anything she swam down and retrieved the pendant.

“Simon, you have been a conceited person, and now no woman would ever have you, or ever love you.” “However, if you earn a kiss from her, you will turn back into the man that you were meant to be.” “After turning back into your true form, you have one month to earn her love, but if she doesn’t love you, you will immediately turn back into a frog.” “Until then, this will be your true form, but the only thing I could offer you right now is your speech.” She put the small pendant into a small velvet pouch. “The pendant has a small spell on it that you will have to recite three times in order to seal your transformation, but if it is lost you are at risk to die.” “If you need my help just think of me.” She then disappeared into thin air.

Simon’s house was right next to the park, and he was getting tired from flopping on the hard cement. He thought about seeking shelter near the Jewish Community Center. Even though he knew how to play that game Froggy with the frog trying to cross the street and not getting hit, he knew that it would be too risky to cross the street when he was the frog. It takes a long time to get used to being a frog, and adjustments have to be made, but that doesn’t mean he had to start eating insects, he would never sink so low. He finally made it to the house, and got in through the pet door. His dog Bruno died last year, and if his dog was alive right now he would have been dead. Hopping up step by step he finally made it to his bedroom.

The sun was shinning through his window as he got up to glance at his beeping alarm clock. It was almost 5:00 AM. He hopped on it to get it to stop beeping and almost broke it. Noticing that he was a frog he had to take his shower in the sink. His mind kept going back to the night at the pond, and the witch who transformed him into a frog. He knew she was right about him and decided today will be the day that he would find his bride. Looking at his scaly green skin, and warted face he knew it would be even harder with what he looks like now, but he wanted to prove to himself and the witch that he could do it.

He needed some breakfast before starting his journey. He knew the bakery wouldn’t be open until 7:00AM, so he decided to go to Broadway Diner. It would be hard getting there, but he had a plan. He noticed that his webbed fingers were sticky enough to hold on to the bumper of a car, so he made it to the diner in one hour. People were shuffling in for their morning breakfast. He went in and hopped on a stool near the counter. A young waitress noticed him, and suddenly screamed. She grabbed a broom and started chasing the frog. Simon immediately jumped off the stool trying to make it to the door. An elderly man was entering and about to close the door when Simon jumped up in the air landing on a paper plate. The paper plate spun out of control first, but before he knew it he was out there on the street with his head spinning.

Simon had to get his breakfast from a McDonalds drive thru. He ordered a baked apple pie that made him gag on every bite, but kept reminding himself that he will not eat insects. His mother lived on Avenue C across the street from the Bayonne Public Library. He kept jumping until he reached the bell. His mother finally opened the door. She looked around trying to see who rang the bell until she heard a voice calling her. Looking down she screamed and almost tumbled backwards.

Simon hopped in the house. “Mother, it’s me Simon, ribbit.”

She looked at him in bewilderment and shock. “Simon?” “Oh, dear God, what has happened to you?”

“I’ll tell you everything, ribbit” Simon said as he hopped into the living room. After Simon was done with his depiction of what took place last night, his mother sat there wide eyed.

“Mother, I know you told me about a young woman who you had in mind who lived next door with her father ribbit.”

Evelyn looked at him in astonishment and nodded. “Yes, Catherine Wesland actually works in that library across the street, and she is also our next door neighbor.” “Her father is the Duke of Wesland in England, and expected her to make a good match, but he moved his three daughters here after his wife died to protect them from fortune hunters.” “She is twenty four with two older sisters.” “She is also very smart, and right now is a senior college student with a dream to become a veterinarian.” “She also loves kids, and also helps out in the Pee Wee Day Care Center every Saturday.”

Simon thought that since his mother has spoken of her highly since she moved in three years ago, he knew that she would be perfect for him. He had only seen her once since leaving home for college. She had dark black hair and he couldn’t forget those enchanting gray eyes that mystified him at first sight. When he first saw her, she stirred feelings that he couldn’t describe and that he used to ignore, but now he wondered would she ever love him for what he is right now.

It was now about 7:30AM when he made it to the bakery. He hopped into his office. Since he no longer could write, his mother composed a note to inform the workers that he would be on vacation for two weeks. It was almost lunch time, and yet again McDonalds was his only choice for a meal. After eating his nasty cheeseburger, he decided to go back to his mother’s house to stay with her. He needed a plan to get Catherine to fall in love with him. As soon as he got back, his mother informed him that Catherine’s father would be throwing a party in celebration to his oldest daughter’s engagement in a townhouse. Simon thought this would be the perfect opportunity to see Catherine. Looking at his scaly green skin he thought he needed some serious grooming for tonight. So his mother took him to a pet grooming place called the House of Pets. After being groomed from head to toe, his mother drove him back to her house where she took her time getting ready for the party.

The townhouse was huge.

“Mother, you can go, ribbit.” “I’ll find a way inside.”

“Okay, just try to be careful, please.” She said.

Simon thought it looked like a castle, and he knew that he couldn’t just come through the entrance. He decided to find the fire escape, and enter through one of the bedrooms hoping it would be Catherine’s. He found the fire escape and kept jumping until he luckily found a bedroom window open. He wished he could go downstairs and enjoy the party, but because of his present condition, he had better stay put. Because of the boredom, Simon fell asleep on the windowsill.

Catherine came into her bedroom at midnight. She turned on the light, and almost screamed her lungs out when she spotted the frog on the windowsill. The frog was warty and green. She went to the windowsill, and studied the frog. She noticed that he had a scratch on his right leg, and decided she would take care of him in the morning. She took out a shoe box from under her bed and put the frog into it without waking it up.

Simon awoke with a start when he felt Catherine examining his leg. She had a needle ready, and alcohol and disinfectant pads. She put him back in a shoe box, went to her closet to grab some clothes, and left the room. She came back in wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Simon remembered that today was Saturday and she was going to the Pee Wee Day Care Center.

She picked up a blue satchel, a book, and the shoe box with the frog in it.

“Good morning Catherine”, a short plumb woman said.

“Good morning Anita, where are the kids?”

“Oh, they are in the play room waiting for you.” “What have you got there in the shoe box?”

“Just a little something for story time”, Catherine answered her happily as she made her way to the room.

The children were all playing with their favorite toys, and as soon as Catherine came in, all of them went to sit down for story time.

“What story are you going to tell us today?” One girl asked.

“Well, I thought I should tell you the story of The Frog Prince.

Simon couldn’t believe it until she started the story. When she took him out of the shoe box to show him to the children, he was surprised to see their little faces brighten with excitement. He saw a fly buzzing around near Catherine, and quickly snatched it with his tongue actually enjoying the taste of it. All the children laughed with delight at the performance.

When she got up to the part were the princess had to kiss the frog, Catherine picked him up and kissed him between his eyes. Simon felt sensations coursing through his body similar to the ones he felt near the pond with the witch. When he felt himself change, he jumped out of her making the children laugh and get closer. Catherine looked at the strange phenomenon in wonder, and when she saw that he was a man she almost screamed. After changing Simon looked at all the kids with a smile on his face. He made his way to Catherine, but before she could say anything he took her in his arms and kissed her.

“H-How?” She started saying but he put his fingers to his lips, and simply kissed her again ignoring the children in the room. After the kiss ended Catherine realized that this was Evelyn’s son, Simon, and she had been in love with him ever since she came from England.

“Ribbit, I mean are you okay?” Simon asked her.

“Yes, fine.” Simon why were you a frog?” Catherine asked in confusion

“I’ll explain everything when we get home. Why, did you mind kissing a frog?”

“Not really, Simon I have loved you ever since I met you, no matter in what shape or form.”

Pulling her into his arms and leaning to kiss her he said “ribbit” making her laugh with delight. At that moment both knew that they will live together happily ever after.

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[MAG1]So far I think that this terrific!!