ASAP’s Fables: The Frogs Who Desired a Ping

 

“You know how it works,” said the first frog.

“I do? You’re the one who insisted and I’m quoting, that ‘we simply couldn’t live without it,’” said the second frog.

There, two frogs resting atop a pair of lily pads, waited for any signs of life coming from their recently purchased iPhone. 

“It was very expensive, you know,” said the first frog.

“And? Get to the point, I’m in a rush,” said the second frog.

“And I think that it ought to matter,” said the first frog.

“It’s not like the thing is waterproof. Didn’t they at least offer you a case for it?,” said the second frog.

“I figured we’d be using it so much in the first few weeks there’d be no reason to ever put it down,” said the first frog. A naïve statement if the second frog ever heard one. 

The two frogs weren’t so different. They grew up in the same pond, went to the same schools, made the same friends. But there was a worldliness to the second frog, as if he’d been somewhere, had lived another life once. He knew things that most friends didn’t. He liked classical music, appreciated Kentucky bourbon and in recent years took to watercolors. Now the first frog, he was a frog. No one confused him with a reincarnated Dalai Lama. His opinion was never sought after by visitors. All of a sudden, the phone started to vibrate. 

“Oh my goodness, it’s happening,” said the first frog, a little frazzled.

“Answer it,” said the second frog. 

“Hello? Is anyone there?”

“It was a text message, wasn’t it?” said the second frog.

“I wish that would happen again. How exciting. I’ve never felt so alive,” said the first frog.

Moments like these caused the second frog to hate the first frog. Then he remembered he was just a frog and how shouldn't expect more from him. He went to Best Buy and purchased a phone. That was reason enough for celebration.  

“Who should we call?,” said the first frog.

“Who can we call?,” said the second frog.

“We could call information? Or one of the emergency numbers,” said the first frog.

“No, it has to be organic. You can get in serious trouble if you’re not in the middle of a real emergency,” said the second frog.

While the two frogs were discussing the possibility of making an outgoing call, a stork sidled up to them, surprising both with a sudden greeting. 

“Hello, boys,” said the stork.

“Oh hi, we didn’t see you there,” said the first frog.

“You should’ve called first. We have a phone now. Check it out,” said the second frog.

“I prefer the spontaneity of a pop-in, no call.” 

“You hungry?,” said the first frog.

“I think I got everything I need right here. I’m in a hurry though,” said the stork.

“What was that emergency number again?,” said the second frog.