Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Just One Kiss

It is a family tradition that goes back to 1997. It's the singing Frog Prince.

But not just any singing Frog Prince. This is one crazy frog, and the song he sings is legendary in our family:

Just one kiss, and I'll be your Valentine
Your prince is waiting here inside,
just one smooch and you'll be mine - yeah!

It is a simple little stuffed frog, that when hit, sings his song. Actually, any impact at all will get him singing his song. It could be something really subtle, but it doesn't matter. He's going to sing his song:

Just one kiss, and I'll be your Valentine
Your prince is waiting here inside,
just one smooch and you'll be mine - yeah!

His singing has just a hint of menace in it. The funny thing about this one that separates it from other singing stuffed animals is that the song is so weird. It is almost like he's threatening you:

Just one kiss, and I'll be your Valentine
Your prince is waiting here inside,
just one smooch and you'll be mine - yeah!

You expect this sort of thing from a sleazy lounge singer, and certainly not as a sweet gift for Valentine's Day. It is for precisely this reason that we have used this frog as a practical joke in the family for years. It is the perfect thing to leave under someone's pillow, year after year. Once the unsuspecting victim puts their head down for a long winter's nap, suddenly out of the darkness it's there:

Just one kiss, and I'll be your Valentine
Your prince is waiting here inside,
just one smooch and you'll be mine - yeah!

We do this each year just before or at Valentine's Day. The fact that it is a full year before we pull the prank again is probably why the victim(s) forget to check under their pillow, or behind their mattress. On Valentine's Day, I got a call from Nana: She found the frog! She was going to bed, and was lying down on the mattress, quite tired. Suddenly, her pillow started to shake and she heard singing! What on earth is that?!? Oh, it's just that frog again...!

It was another successful year for the Frog Prince, but we weren't through with him yet. This year, Nana returned him to the house, and we decided to let Madison play around with him.
She loves the thing: she even goes "yeah!" when he's done singing. And then she pounds it again, just so she can hear that goofy song! One night, she brought it to bed with her. There she was, alongside Alice and her singing frog. There she was sleeping peacefully with her two best friends in the whole world!

Anyway, here she is with the Frog Prince tonight, enjoying dinner and a show. I think you know what song he's singing. Notice that microphone he holds. He's a crooner for sure, dressed up all snazzy and still waiting for that kiss. Also, strangely, he sits there and vibrates until he's done singing. I really wish I bought another one of these things, it is so weird!

But Madison loves it. Not enough to kiss him yet. Which is fine with Daddy. Some day her prince will come, but not any time soon!

2 comments:

  1. I have looked everywhere for one of these frogs. I had one and it got destroyed in a flood. And I cannot find another one.

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    1. Okay, first of all, sorry for the delay in response. There was a format change on this blog, and I missed this message. Secondly, what's the story behind this frog for you? For you to be looking everywhere, it sounds like a good one...

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