Jennie moved the rock and discovered the object of the croaking sound. She shrieked in delight. “Oh, look at you, pretty green frog. Were you stuck there?”

“It’s hard getting used to these funky legs,” the frog said.

Eyes widening, Jennie could only stare at the talking amphibian.

“Thank you for freeing me, Jennie.” The voice was familiar.

“How do you know my name?”

The frog’s mouth twisted up in an impossible grin. “I’ve known you your whole life, even if you don’t recognize me.”

Jennie’s eyes filled with tears. She tried to contain her excitement. “Mommy? Is it really you?”

“It’s me. I’ve missed you so much.”

“Me too, Mommy. When are you coming home?”

Her mother’s giant black eyes sunk. “Didn’t Daddy explain to you?”

“He said you had an accident and we won’t ever see you again.” Jennie held her breath as she waited for her mother to tell her Daddy lied.

“He’s right. Sometimes things happen and we just have to accept them.”

“But I need you. Daddy needs you, too. He cries all the time.” Desperation crept its way into her voice. “You did come back.”

The frog smiled again. “I didn’t return. I just never really left. I won’t ever leave you as long as you remember me.”

“I can’t forget you. I love you.”

“I love you, too. I came to tell you some important things.” The tone was serious, like the time Mommy stopped her from crossing the street and scolded her. “You have to stop being angry at school.”

“The kids say such awful things.”

“They don’t understand. You have to ignore them. Concentrate on getting good grades.”

“Yes, Mommy.”

“Daddy needs you. Mind what he says and help him remember me. You need to be strong for him, now.”

“I’m only seven.” Jennie felt as if her mother had just put an anvil in her knapsack with her schoolbooks and told her she wasn’t taking the bus.

Jennie’s mother croaked a laugh out. “You don’t need to mow the lawn or anything. Just show him you love him.”

“I can do that.”

“Mommy has to leave now. Her belly is empty and she needs to catch some flies.”

“Will you be back?”

“I will never leave.”

Jennie reached out with both hands. “Can I hug you?”

“I’d like that.”

She held the frog in her hands. She pursed her lips to kiss her mother goodbye.

“Jennie, don’t do that.” Daddy’s voice was angry. “Put it down.”

She placed the frog back on the ground and it winked at her. She turned to her father and said, “Daddy, it’s Mommy. She talked to me.”

A tiny smile cracked Daddy’s stony face. “Go wash up for dinner.” He rubbed her head as she ran past him.

Jennie’s father took a tentative step towards the frog. He stared hard at it and the amphibian returned the gaze. He thought he saw something he recognized in its eyes.

“Martha—is that you?”

The frog hopped away without a word.