Episode Four (End)

Ruth put her half-empty glass on the table. "Don't give her any of mine."
She looked at the other two women. "Well, what are we going to do about it?

"In all the old fairy tales, Prince Charming came riding up on his white
steed, gave the frog a kiss and presto, the frog turned back into the
Princess. I think Janet qualifies as a princess, don't you?" Joanne drained
her glass and held up three fingers. "Janet's had enough."

Lucy nodded enthusiastically. "I agree, but where can we find a Prince
Charming? They are mighty scarce around these parts."

All three women quickly scanned the outside patio of the café. They looked
at each other and grinned.

"Jerry will have to do even though he's got a few beers on his breath." Ruth
yelled for Jerry to come over and for the waitress to bring a beer.

Lucy tugged on his hand. "Now what we want you to do is kiss Janet. Jack the
Frogmaker has turned her into a frog. A hot kiss from you will bring her
back to normal." She blew another dram of gin into the frog's mouth.

Jerry looked down at the frog. "Make that two beers."

The three nodded and waited.

"I'm not going to kiss a frog here. Everybody will think I'm crazy." He
picked up the frog and walked outside into an empty lot. He stumbled on a
beer bottle, dropping the frog. The frog hopped under a building. He was on
his hand and knees looking when Janet walked by. She entered the patio and
sat down.

All three women shouted at the same time "Where in the hell have you been?
What happened to you?"

"I don't know. I have a terrible hangover. Someone gave me too much gin."

Nelson Lynch///First Saturday Writers///15 June 2005 1068