I spent several days processing the events with the elephants. Penny didn’t seem to be in any hurry to back either. She slept a lot and stayed nearby. I was not agitated, and my mind was calmer than usual. The Place was changing me. I liked what was happening. However, this morning I woke with a desire to see Ellie. “Penny, shall we go.” She was ready.

When we arrived, all the animals were there to meet us. I began thinking of them as the Troupe. Ellie was next to Aslan but waited until I came close before stirring. She waved her trunk at me, smelling the air I think, and then took a step. I knelt down, giving her a hug and letting her use her trunk to get reacquainted. Big steps for a little pachyderm. She was adorable with long lashes, little toenails, and tail. Her skin was not as rough as it would get over time. Penny was yapping and dancing all around her. “My turn,” she was saying. I stepped away, looked up to see him there.

“Lord, could I make a request?”

He smiled and nodded.

“I delight in red-eyed green frogs. Could we see some?”

“I have waiting for you to ask.” 

“You always know my heart’s desires.”

“Yes, and sometimes I can grant them. We go this way, but you will get your feet wet.”

“Ok by me, I have learned that the air here dries clothes quickly.”

The Troupe fell in behind us as he led down yet another path I did not know was there. This one began where the toads were, but then moved off to the left. There we had to cross the stream that flowed into the Pond, and the other side was marshy with mud. Bear reached down and picked up Penny. I smiled remembering the other portage. The mud was delightful. I felt like a kid on a holiday from parental control. It mushed up through my toes and covered my feet. It made a smuuking sound when my feet came out. It tickled. It was a marsh with cattails, lily pads, ferns, trees hanging over, downed logs and other swampy stuff. I wondered about crocodiles, but remembered the dragon and didn’t bother. 

I could hear and then see different birds than I knew. Ones that I had only seen in pictures. There were insects and a splash from a snake or two. Aslan and Bear can’t be enjoying this. Ellie, I suddenly thought! I stopped and turned around. Aslan was beside her supporting and encouraging. Ok, all’s well. I was having fun. I stopped to roll up my pants legs. As I did, I looked up at the sudden sound of something big flying down out of a tree. I lost my balance and sat down. Now I could really squish in the mud. The bird that caused my plop was a parrot, a big one. Colors brighter even in this dimmer light than I could have painted, reds, blues, green, with a yellow bill. It’s tail was long and when it landed on his shoulder the feathers fell down to Jesus’ waist. It landed with a parrot caw that set Penny to barking. Not wanting to share him? I wondered. “Penny, no barking,” I scolded. She swallowed the next bark with gurgle. I picked myself up, wiped my hands on my jeans, chuckling. We walked on. I was enchanted. 

We climbed out on a grassy area that fortunately had a trickle of fresh water. The animals took a drink, and I washed my hands. No use washing the feet yet. Most likely more mud to come. Penny was running in circles, nose to the turf, with her happy hunting yip. I found him sitting with his back to a log and joined him. “Reminds me of the Okefenokee Swamp in northern Florida,” I commented. 

He nodded, “more like Central America. Look up in the trees.”

I did and there they were, hopping and jumping from branch to branch. They are arboreal frogs, living in trees but coming down to the water. They are green, with blue sides, white bellies, red eyes, and orange feet. They are not your regular frog. But then what is a regular frog among the 4000 or so different kinds. This one had taken my fancy with its eyes. Red. 

One hopped the end of a branch near us and paused. It began to croak wildly, then hopped down to the ground and over to Jesus. Creature meets Creator. We all know him. We are all drawn to him. Few get this chance. Or maybe they all do in some way that is beyond me. Ants? Flies? Hum.

This one was on a pilgrimage, and when it arrived, it settled on his knee. Then it was raining frogs. That croak must have been an alert. They were around all of us. I heard Penny whimper, and knowing her, there were too many. She was overwhelmed. Safely held by Bear she settled some and watched. Aslan and Ellie seemed unaffected. They were all over them too, but with a thick hide and fur perhaps did not feel much. I certainly did. They tickled! Some felt dry, some damp but none were slimy.

There were so many, on top of each other that the ground was an undulating mass of green, spiked with blue and shining red dots. I asked for frogs, and I certainly had frogs. Lots and lots and lots of frogs. They did not stay on any spot for long. But soon, most headed back up the trees or into the water. A few lingered, like the one on his knee. I had several in my lap, on my head and shoulders. And all around me. One sat off to my right, looking at me. 

“Hi, are you a prince? If I kiss you, will you turn into one?” It hopped closer, and when I put out my hand, it hopped on board. I pulled it up to my eye level. 

“Now what am I to do with you?” Some how kissing a frog to find a prince seemed inappropriate with the King of Kings sitting next to me. Now, when I was younger, frogs turned into princes. Princes were wonderfully handsome men in strange clothes that girls wanted. I did not know what they did, or even what a prince was, but they were important, and you had to find the right frog to get one. As I rested my hand, it stayed. Hum, what’s up with this.

The mood changed and all but my frog vanished. Jesus got to his feet. I looked up, but found no invitation to rise, so I stayed put. Wondering. I could see that Aslan and Bear were on alert. I set my frog in my lap and waited. Another creature was coming to meet its Creator. I was not alarmed only curious. The water underneath the biggest tree began to rise and ripple. I bet it is a croc.

And I was right but what a croc, huge with its teeth visible, especially that fourth one, big and nasty looking. From the little I knew I guessed about 17 feet long and about 2000 pounds. An average adult male. Big enough to make any of the animals a meal, although he would go a few rounds with Aslan. Bear, Aslan, and Ellie had never seen one of these monsters, because they don’t get around swamps much. Neither did I for that matter, but I respected them from afar. Penny was whimpering at the smell and sight. Bear made soothing bear noises and it helped some. 

“Good girl, it’s OK, good girl.” Not sure it helped much as this one was mighty close.

It was so long, there was not room on our grassy spot for all of it. It crawled up to about 2 feet from Jesus’ muddy sandals and stopped. It has been my season for nasty smelly reptiles. Although this one did not smell as much as I would have thought. The water must have washed it away. But then it opened its mouth. Yuk, teeth, and halitosis! That’s what Penny was smelling. Must be digesting something. It raised itself up as high as its stubby legs would let it, then gave the Creator a very awkward nod. Sort of a third of its body nod as it has no real neck to bend. All mouth and body. But it was acknowledging Jesus. 

I felt no anxiety as the Lord was there and I remembered the dragon. My choice to fear or trust. But then Jesus turned and motioned me over. I put my frog down on the log and stepped to his side. I could see an eye moving to follow my motion. Its eye had the dark slit pupil with brownish-yellowish-greenish color around it. A very different kind and color of an eye. Was unsettling. But I wanted to feel its hide, the rough scales, with black dots. When I leaned forward, it opened its mouth. I did not to flinch but said “no” like I would scold Penny. Didn’t think just came out of my mouth. Had to chuckle, as if it would understand. But it did because it shut that fearful mouth with a loud snap. Then I could feel what the hide was like. Reminded me of the dragon. Same kind of protective armor. 

I stepped back, looked up at Jesus with a smile. “Always the surprise. But I am glad because I am learning to choose trust not fear. Thank you.” Love how he smiles when I am grateful. 

The croc backed up into the water and was gone. The Troupe stirred, time to head back. I started down the path after Bear, petting Penny.

“You are forgetting someone,” he said.

I stopped, looked around and there was my frog, on the log waiting. I went over and picked it up. “If you are to be part of the Troupe, you have to have a name. How about Kermit? He is another frogy favorite of mine. Seems that maybe you are a prince after all.” 

I set him on Aslan’s head because if I plopped again, I wanted him safe. Now why I thought it needed to be kept safe in his own neighborhood, I don’t know. But I did.

When we got to the stream, we all waded in, rinsing our feet. My muddy bum would have to wait for the laundry. Penny took a nice long drink, came to my side and we walked to the path. This time he stayed so I could give him a goodbye hug and Penny gave one too. Kermit stayed on Aslan’s head. For now, anyway. Our Troupe is growing. Who is next I wondered. Anyone?