Frogs Can Be Snakes: A Short Story

Mary was the first-born daughter of the King. She was a fine-looking girl, until her sister Emma, was born. When your sister is regarded as the most beautiful girl in all the land, the kind of girl that could cure sickness with her beauty alone, your fine-lookingness loses any credibility. If Mary earned the heart of one boy, Emma earned the heart of twenty boys. Emma was presented with anything she could have ever wanted. She got the biggest bedchamber, with pillows filled with hand plucked feathers from the kingdom geese, and the grandest windows that were meticulously crafted to have both a view of the sunrise and the sunset. Mary resided on the bottom floor of the castle in a room that possessed a ancient down comforter that’s only pattern was the one created by mold and a view of her neighbors, the thieves, ruffiens, and murders who were sent to the lowest floor of the castle to serve their sentence. Despite the sweetness of some of her neighbors, the poor treatment seemed to go on without end except for Christams the past year, Mary was generously gifted a golden ball. Mary had played with the ball for all but 5 minutes before Emma kicked, screamed, and whined till Mary was forced to give her younger sister her prized gift. So you see, it is not without reason that Mary was very cautious with almost all of her actions and why she spent most of her time away from the castle, away from her sister.

Mary had found a well in the depths of the woods. The scene looked to be ripped from the paintings on the palace walls. It was beautiful, bathed in canopy-filtered light and surrounded by blooming wildflowers. Mary would sit on the edge of the tranquil well and scrawl her innermost thoughts into the tattered leather journal that her father gave her to compensate for the loss of her Christmas gift.

One day, Mary was writing and heard a bubbling from the well. She bent over and looked down into the water and before she could even let out at word a frog lunged at her sticking its padded fingers to the apples of her cheeks. Mary screamed and shook her head furiously, but the frog remained fiercely gripped.

“Get off! Get off me!,” said Mary

“Calm down sweetheart,” said the frog.

Mary finally reached up her hand, gripped the frog with all her might, and threw him against the calm top of the well’s water. The surface rippled and splashed over the stone edges, splashing both Mary and her journal.

“No! You stupid frog, you ruined my journal,” said Mary.

The frog let out a groan and slipped out of the water onto the well’s wall next to Mary.

“I actually think you ruined the journal. See if you hadn’t thrown me, everything would be fine,” said the frog. He scooted his slimy body closer to Mary placing his tiny webbed fingers onto hers.

“I’m James, and you are?” he asked.

Despite the utter disgust for amphibians Mary generally held, there was something different about him, so she couldn’t help but smile.

“My name is Mary,” she said.

From that day on Mary would come to visit the well everyday, not to escape her sister but to be near James. They laughed and talked. James even hung her journal out to dry, wrapped it in leaves and vines like a gift, and gave it to her for, to say thanks for her kindness. James was the first person, or more accurately creature, who treated her with generosity and compassion. Mary really enjoyed James, what was just a small green companion in the woods became much more, and she finally decided to tell him.

It was the weekend of Mary’s eighteenth birthday, and all of Mary’s extended family would be there to celebrate her blossoming into womanhood. Although all the patrons in the castle were raving with excitement, Mary knew that this birthday would be like each other. Mary’s birthday or not, Emma would be first. So, Mary made it a point to visit James before the festivities began. She needed something to keep her smiling throughout the day, so she decided that she would finally share with James the admiration towards him she held.

“James, you know, I have been coming here for quite some time and now that I am eighteen and looking for suitors…” Mary said, but before she could finish her sentence, the little frog jumped into her hands and stopped her in her tracts. “Mary, I met the most breathtaking girl yesterday,” James said.

“Huh?” Mary responded.

“A girl, she was a little shorter than you, with hair that looked like embers. Oh, Mary, it was like fate, she sat on the edge of my well and played with this golden ball,” James said.

“A golden ball?” Mary said, shocked.

James droned on and on about how the girl had dropped her ball into the well and wept and wept. He talked about how she had made a deal with him. If he could retrieve her ball then she would be his companion for life. Mary’s ears were smoking. How could he betray her like this? Mary had been his friend, dare she think more than friend, and she swore that he would’ve shared the same sentiments. She never in a thousand years would’ve guessed this.

“I could’ve been your companion, James. I come here nearly every day and listen to your troubles. I bring you treats and snacks. Why didn’t you ask me to be your companion?”

“Mary, you are such a nice girl, and any boy would be lucky to have you. I have really appreciated the kindness you have shown me and jeopardizing what we have, well I just couldn’t fathom doing it. Mary you are an amazing girl, but you’re like a sister to me, and I wouldn’t want to ruin our friendship.” A pitiful smile stretched across James’ slimy face.

“Yeah, of course. Well, I should probably get going. I wouldn’t want to interrupt you and Emma,” Mary said, choking on her sister’s name.

“Wait, you know her?” James said.

He perked up. He wanted Mary to stay, but Mary did not want to stay. She got up from the edge of the well and hurried down the path back to the castle.

“Mary, do you know her?” James shouted, but Mary did not respond.

The beautiful oasis Mary once called her own now felt rotted. The trees drooped and the sun retired and as Mary brushed herself off for her Birthday celebration she couldn’t help but imagine what could’ve been. She thought of James and her wedding. It would be grand and Emma would be so jealous. Mary would walk down the aisle and the entire kingdom would gasp at her beauty. They would all wonder why such a breathtaking girl would settle for a frog, but Mary would assure them that he was so much more than a frog, or so she thought. These fantasies are what occupied her journal. When she finally reached the bridge to the castle, she ripped out every page in her journal that mentioned James. She tossed near all of the pages of her small journal into the bubbling brook and wished on each piece of textured paper as if it were a coin. She wished to never see that revolting frog ever again.

***

A few hours passed, but Mary’s frustrated demeanor had not diminished. She sat at the dining table for her birthday feast. Emma sat on the right of her, closest to the castle doors. Emma glowed, her hair was perfectly pleated and dress sparkled. The King had told the seamstress earlier that day to have Mary re-wear one of her gowns. Emma’s gown was brand new and had gold thread embroidered into the corseted bust. Mary winced at Emma’s perfect voice, as she giggled at all the compliments she received. Mary rolled her eyes to her left where her great great grandmother Charice sat. Her frown was not the only part of Charise that sagged. Her skin looked like it was poked and stitched into her muted green dress, a color that resembled vomit too closely. After Mary shifted in her seat for what felt like hours, the servants finally brought out the dinner, roasted duck, Emma’s favorite. The fine china and silverware clattered, as the guest dined on the biggest feast the king had ever thrown. Mary squirmed at the chewing sounds, for a room full of royalty the etiquette was horrendous. Mary couldn’t help but feel miserable. Everyone’s plates seemed to be licked clean except for Mary. Her plate sat untouched. She hadn’t even looked at her food, for her eyes were fixed on her sister for most of the evening. How could she not look at her when the stained glass window piece projected a beam of light that perfectly engulfed Emma? The King clinked his glass and the hall fell silent, but before he could proclaim his toast a croaking was heard from the door.

“Emma! Let me in! You made a promise!”

Mary could recognize that charming croak from anywhere. It was a sound she use to love, a sound she used to dream about. Although this was a sound that was so familiar to her, it seemed so foreign for the rest of the room. It was so foriegn to Emma, but of course it was foriegn to Emma. Emma did not know James like Mary did. It was the one thing Mary had that Emma didn’t, at least till now. Emma skipped happily to the door, loving any kind of event ath would place her at the center of attention. When Emma opened the door, James hopped and slid onto the palace tile. Mary’s mouth was still agape and Charice noticed.

“Close your mouth, Mary. You’ll catch flies,” Charice said.

Mary rolled her eyes at the mention of flies.

Mary watched her father as his furrowed brow of confusion faded, and Mary was not the least bit surprised when the king walked up to James and greeted him as he would any other guest.

“I’m sorry, sir. I seem to be confused about the reason for your arrival,” the king said.

“Your daughter made me a promise. She said if I retrieved her ball then she would be my companion for life,” said James.

“Is this true, Emma?” the king asked.

Emma shifted back and forth on the heels of her feet. She made eye contact with no one but her reflection in the glistening tiles.

“Emma, answer me!” the king prodded, a little louder.

“Well, I guess I did say that, but I didn’t mean it. Father, how could you think that I would want to be a lifelong companion with a frog? Why doesn’t he wed Marry? Marry is eighteen now, and it’s not like anyone else in the kingdom is begging for her hand,” Emma whined.

Mary shriveled her eyebrows. She was offended by the statement. Surely there were plenty of men who would want her hand. Although she was very much considering a lifelong companionship with a frog, she was still taken aback by how easy it was for Emma to assign her the role.

“Well, a promise is a promise Emma,” the King said.

With just those few words from the king, Emma was required to do what Mary had dreamed about for months. Emma shared her food with James, as he sat between her and Mary at the King’s table. His slime left a damp spot on the tablecloth he sat on. Everyone in the company shifted in their seats as James gobbled down bite after bite, Spewing spit and scraps of food in every direction. Emma wore a disgusted look on her face and gagged every time her beautifully soft skin brushed his rubbery exterior. James ate and laughed, occasionally launching flirtatious quips in Emma’s direction. Mary’s knuckles were white and her fingers pink from balling them up so tightly. Her lips fought the urge to scream and holler at both her sister and James. James obviously did not fight the same urge.

“Sorry Mary, I don’t think I even said hello when I entered, how rude of me! How do you do?” said James.

“How do I do? How do I do?! I am not doing well, James!” said Mary

Mary wanted to pick his slimy body up and throw him out the castle doors, she wanted to kiss him, and she wanted to fall onto the floor, kick, scream, and cry. She didn’t though. Mary was not someone who threw tantrums, at least not in public, so she stood up from the table, dusted off her dress, and bid everyone a lovely evening.

“We should probably get going too. I would love to get some shut-eye with my new companion,” James said, with a wink, motioning to Emma.

Emma shook her head. She was silently pleading for him to save her, but as her father had said earlier, a promise is a promise.

Mary, Emma, and James all exited the dining room. Mary had a glimmer of curiosity that lingered in her eye. She watched James and Emma make their way into her room. Emma was never one who desired privacy, so her door was often left cracked or open all the way. Mary from just down the hall had the perfect view of Emma’s bedroom. She watched James beg to sleep in Emma’s bed. He pleaded and croaked, teased and flirted, he even yelled. Something about it made Mary’s skin crawl. She had never seen him so desperate.

“Stop begging! Just stop it!” Emma screamed.

Emma reached down and swiftly threw James at the wall with all her might. Both she and Mary let out a gasp together. In that moment, Mary had seen the same surprised girl in Emma that she had seen in her self when she had first met James. Mary was disgusted, not amazed. Mary never would have imagined her first night with James in this way, but who was she to say? Maybe she too would have felt disgusted with his advances and chucked him with repulsion, just the same as her sister. But as Mary looked upon his cold, limp, green body sprawled across the floor she couldn’t help but feel a piece of her heart break. This was surely going to be the final straw. James wasn’t going to tolerate being whined at and tossed around, but with a blink of an eye James was different. After James hit the wall he was no longer a frog, but a beautiful young man.

“Oh my God,” Emma said.

She jumped up from her bed and quickly made her way over to James, placing the back of her hand onto his cheek.

“I am so sorry. I don’t know what came over me,” Emma said.

“No, don’t apologize. You did what no one else could. You saved me, Emma. Would it be too much to ask for your hand in marriage?” James said.

Emma’s perfect eyes glistened. Mary stared at the two of them. Her cheeks were flushed from anger and partly because of James’ new appearance.

“It would not be too much! I would love to marry you, James. I always knew you were the one for me. Ask my father for his blessing and we can be married this Friday,” Emma said.

Mary watched the couple embrace. Her eyes flooded with tears and hurried down three flights of stairs to her basement bedroom.

***

Three days later, the two were married, the wedding was exactly how Mary imagined it. It was perfect and her selfish heart still wanted Emma to be her, but Mary was left alone again. She had cried and cried to her neighbor, Stefan, a young man locked away for stealing bread, once the ceremony was completed.

“Stefan, do you know what it’s like to feel cheated in life?” said Mary.

“Princess, I know the tortures of life more than anyone in this here castle. I know that love has consequences just like theft. You highness, I have no knowledge of what goes on above this floor, but what I do know is that you are a beautiful young girl with a life that is free. You have no bars holding you back and you have no ties to keep you down. That is a luxury and for that I envy you,” said Stefan, with a smile.

“Thank you, Stefan,” said Mary.

Mary walked back into her chambers, closing the door behind her. She plopped into her bed that felt far more comfortable than it ever had in the past, reached over to her chest of drawers and retrieved her old tattered notebook. Mary opened up the page, far past the ripped out remains, and titled the top with, Stefan, my new companion.