George sat at the kitchen table with his daughter in his arms. He was supposed to be one-handed packing up a box of dishes, but it turned out that a wriggly little pollywog made one-handed anything very difficult.
Then Herman the cat decided that the box was just perfect for him, and he stepped daintily into the center of the box and sat down, quite pleased with himself.
From the kitchen, George could hear Amelia clattering about, getting things done.
“When you’re done that box–” Amelia said, coming into the room, and she stopped short. “George, you aren’t packing!”
“I tried,” George said. “But then Brigette got interested in Herman’s box sitting.”
“Oh, George!” Amelia said. “Packing up is a lot of work, and I can’t do it on my own! I’m tired, too, but we have to get it done.”
George grimaced. “I’m going to suggest something that you’re going to hate, Amelia…”
“We are NOT signing her up for daycare!” Amelia exploded.
“No, I meant, we could put the TV on and let her watch some Sesame Street,” he said.
“Oh… Well, that isn’t half so alarming as daycare, isn it?” she said. “I don’t think we have much choice. Am I a bad mother for agreeing to this?”
“Amelia, you’re a wonderful mother,” George said. “But I either I stand here entertaining Brigette, or we let Elmo do that for a few minutes. We’re good parents, but she’s a full time job!”
George went over and turned on the TV. Amelia stood very still, and George thought she might be upset.
“Amelia?” he said uncertainly.
“I’m sorry I yelled at you,” she whispered.
George gave his wife a squeeze. “All considering, you have the patience of a saint, Amelia. Let’s pack.”
George and Amelia quickly learned that they could get an awful lot done in the space of a Sesame Street episode, and while they worried about their pollywog’s developing brain, and about screen addiction, and what technology was doing to young people today, they could do quite a bit of packing together if they turned on some Sesame Street and just got to work.
But that meant that they could take some quality time with Brigette when the episode was over.
And when Amelia came into the bedroom where they’d set up a laptop with some Elmo on it, she stopped in surprise.
“George!” she called.
George came running in. “What’s the matter?”
“She’s got ARMS!” Amelia said.
And sure enough. While they were out of the room, Brigette had grown herself a pair of arms, and little Brigette seemed quite pleased with this newest development, reaching for things and going cross-eyed looking at her own fingers.
“We missed it…” George said sadly.
“I have one small comfort,” Amelia said. “When we move to the Froggy Amish B&B, there isn’t going to be any more TV. If we miss any more milestones, it’s going to be for wholesome reasons, like we were hanging laundry or something.”
George laughed. “Amelia, she’s growing, and she’s healthy, and we love her to pieces. I don’t think we actually have to worry.”
And they picked up their pollywog, and pinched her little arms and kissed her little cheeks. It seemed like pollywogs grew fastest when their parents weren’t looking!
When George and Amelia got very tired and cranky from packing, they decided a rest was an absolute necessity.
“The weather is beautiful out there, Amelia,” George said. “Why don’t we go for a bike ride?”
“It will be Brigette’s first bike ride!” Amelia said. “Oh, how exciting! I wonder how she’ll like it!”
So they bundled up their pollywog in a blanket, and they went out for a crisp, meandering bike ride in the autumn leaves. George was the one to pedal–this was a man’s responsibility, after all. And Amelia held Brigette in the little seat in the back.
Brigette seemed to like the cool air and the moving scenery. She waved her tiny hand and goggled at everything they passed.
“Does she like it?” George called back.
“I think she does!” Amelia hollered.
When they finally pulled to a stop, George turned around with a grin on his face.
“What do you think, Brigette?” he asked. “Is this fun?”
George gave Amelia a warm smile, and Amelia smiled back.
“I’m going to remember this always,” Amelia said.
“Will you?” George asked.
“This is being filed away in my ‘Those Were the Days’ memory banks,” she said.
“Me, too,” he agreed.
Sometimes, life’s most precious memories could sneak up on a frog.
I hope you’re enjoying this little froggy tales. I write them for my readers, just because they’re fun and I like providing something to you free of charge.
But if you enjoy these stories about love and family, have you tried one of my Amish romances yet? They’re filled with warmth, family, and falling in love. Take a look!
Happy reading!
❤
Patricia Johns 
Your comments make me feel warm and fuzzy. Seriously!