Looking For a Prince

Gwen and her dad were on a walk in the woods.   Birds were singing, a cool breeze was blowing, and there were flowers blooming. It was absolutely perfect. Gwen knew that meant that something magical was going to happen.

Then she saw the frog. Its skin was bumpy and golden. It sat up on a rock, looking straight into her eyes. Gwen knew right away that it was an enchanted prince.

The sun seemed to shine a little brighter, and a breeze blew past, twirling her hair around her face.

“Gwen,” Dad said, walking up to stand beside her.   “What’s up?”

“Dad, I found a frog. He’s a prince!” Gwen clapped her hands together.

“Where is he?” Dad asked. He was looking in the wrong direction.

“Over there, on the rock,” Gwen said. “He’s so handsome already. When I kiss him, he’ll turn into a prince, and I’ll marry him someday.”

Dad looked at her. “You’re much too little to get married. I won’t allow it.”

Gwen laughed. “Dad, I said someday. I can’t get married yet. I still haven’t gone to the moon. I want to go to the moon first. And then maybe I’ll go to another planet like mars. Or maybe I’ll look for mermaids. I’d like to meet a mermaid.”

“Those sound like good plans,” Dad said. “So why are you wanting to go around turning frogs into princes?”

“I think it would be nice to have a prince waiting for me.   Then I don’t have to worry about it anymore,” Gwen said.

“You worry about finding a prince?” Dad asked.

“Of course I do,” Gwen said. “What if they are all taken before I get a chance to find one?”

Dad smiled. “Then you might have to marry someone ordinary, like me.”

Gwen wrinkled up her nose. “I’m not going to marry you. You’re my dad.”

“No, no, no.” Dad laughed. “I meant that I’m ordinary, and your mom married me anyways.   Maybe you can find someone that you like that’s ordinary too.”

“Hmmmmm,” Gwen said. “Maybe. But I think I’d like to marry a prince and live in a castle.”

“Only if he’s a nice prince,” Dad said. “Otherwise I won’t allow it.”

“Aren’t all princes nice?” Gwen asked.

“Princes are people too. There are nice people and mean people, so there must be nice princes and mean princes,” Dad said.

Gwen folded her arms. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

Dad looked around. “So, where was the frog?”

Gwen pointed. “Over there, on the rock.”

Dad turned. The frog was still sitting and watching them. “That’s not a frog. It’s a toad.”

Gwen looked at the frog. Or toad. “How can you tell?” she asked.

“It has bumpy skin,” Dad said. “And I think toads have shorter legs.”

“So, can a toad still be an enchanted prince?” Gwen asked.

Dad frowned. “No, I think toads are enchanted trolls.”

“Ew,” Gwen said. “I don’t want to marry a troll.”

“Of course not,” Dad said. “I wouldn’t allow it.”

“That’s too bad,” Gwen said. “I guess I’ll leave him be. He probably looks better as a toad.”

“Not to other trolls,” Dad said.

“Well, I’ll let them come and kiss him then,” Gwen said.

“That sounds fair.”

“Yup.” She looked sadly at the regal, golden toad.   Then she looked forwards. The woods still looked perfect and magical.   She smiled. “Let’s keep looking. I’m sure there’s a frog here somewhere.”