EXCERPT

It was an early spring morning. I felt as if the sun was inviting me to come out and enjoy its warmth and brilliance. It was a welcome invitation after a long cold wet winter.

My six year old grandson was just finishing his breakfast. I loved it when he came to visit us on the farm. He was such a lot of fun. Everything captured his interest and turned on his curiosity.

When he was about two years old, the croaking of the frogs at night down in our creek fascinated him. He asked me endless questions about them. “I want to go to the creek and catch one Gramma, please, can we catch one?” I explained that they were hard to catch at any time but impossible to catch at night in the dark. Seeing the disappointment in his eyes, I told him that, one day, I would find for him the granddaddy of all the bullfrogs no matter how long it took. We made many trips to the creek over the years but never once saw even a little frog, never mind the granddaddy.

“I still hear them Gramma.” “Hear what?” “You know, the frogs, I hear them every night. I’m still waiting for you to find the granddaddy like you promised.” I couldn’t believe he remembered that. “Well,” I answered, “I’m sure it will happen.” Lord, I thought to myself, what did I ever go and make a promise like that for.

“Now, if you’re finished eating put on your cap and let’s head out to the barn. I have to get the tractor and cut the orchard this morning.” I was hoping that would be exciting enough to get his mind off that dumb old frog. Stuffing the last piece of toast in his mouth and shoving on his cap, he struck out for the barn, stopping long enough to pet one of the cats and throw a stick for the dog to fetch. I fired up the tractor and headed for the orchard with him running ahead to open the gate. He held the gate open, and I drove on through. He ran up on the right side of me and jogged along as I maneuvered the tractor in and out through the various fruit trees. “Not too close,” I shouted, “don’t run in to close to me. Stay out far enough so if you slipped and fell you won’t fall into the blade.” He dropped back and came up on the left side of me far enough to the left to be safe. He picked up his speed a bit and was running closer to the front. Then out of nowhere, as if it were jet propelled, up in the air and right across the front of the tractor, I swear, jumped the biggest bullfrog I had ever seen in all my life. I slammed on my brake. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever experience such excitement as took place in front of me in the next few minutes. He was all over that bullfrog, scrambling through the tall grass, crashing to his knees, diving headfirst, arms outstretched but always an inch short of catching him.