In the
second installment of frogs I have known during
The Ponds 15th
year celebration, I shall
write about Jerry. He
was a large lad and rather protective of his territory. He was also
one of the first odd ones. Odd in his habits that even today I do
not understand.
Jerry
wasn't content with sitting in the water or on floating plants. He
had to sit on a patio chair. All day, every day for weeks. In the
evening he would make his way to a planter box to spend the night.
At first light, out he would hop, and yep, up onto HIS chair where he
kept watch over his realm.
During
one particular sweltering day I became concerned he was dehydrating.
I need not have worried as I watched in amazement as he used his
front legs to smear himself with secretion from his mouth. Using
ancient secrets of frog yoga he was able to completely cover his body
with a film that I guess, cooled and moisturized in one application.
Another
fine summer day I had company for lunch. We set the table and began
the feast. One person, who was a 30 year veteran park ranger in
Algonquin Park noticed Jerry in his chair. An eyebrow was raised. I
mouthed silly me and moved the chair over to the table, with
Jerry in it. He sat silently during the meal even though the
conversation was boisterous. My friend would peer over the table,
see Jerry sitting still watching us, look at me and shake his head
saying “Cheryl, I thought I had seen everything in the wild, but
this, I, I,....”. I shrugged and smiled.
It's The
Pond after all :)
