Jeremy

Mum and Dad were in the garden crowding around the fish pond. Julie was leaning over trying to catch something, her blond pig tails almost trailing in the water.

‘Daddy look quick, there it goes!’ she shouted.

‘Stand back you’ll fall in.’

‘But Daddy, I want to catch it and keep it as a pet.’

‘Frogs aren’t pets sweetie. They live outdoors.’

‘But purlees. Can’t I just have him for the afternoon?’

‘No.’

She looked up at him with big blue puppy dog eyes. ’Pretty please?’

He had never been able to refuse her anything.

‘Oh ok then but you must keep him in some water and then put him back.’

‘Ok.’

Dad went to the shed and got a fishing net with a long handle.

‘I’m going to call him Jeremy,’ said the little girl immersing the net amongst the tangled weed.

After about fifteen minutes of hopping about she managed to catch it and put it into a large jar filled with pond water.

‘What do frogs eat?’

‘All sort of grubs and insects,’ said Dad.

‘I’m going to find him some dinner.’

She walked away, so I went over to the jar, picked up the frog and squeezed it really hard. When I opened my palm all that was left was a green sticky pulp.

‘Jeremy, I’ve got you some lovely dinner,’ sang the little girl skipping over. She stopped when she saw me.

‘What are you doing?’

‘Nothing.’

She looked angrily at the empty container. ‘Where’s my frog?’

‘Your what?’

‘My frog.’

‘Oh it must have got away when you weren’t looking.’

‘He can’t have the lid was on tight.’

‘Well I don’t know.’

‘You’ve taken him haven’t you?’ she shrieked.

I shrugged and she punched me crying ‘where have you put him you pig?’