A Day in the Life of a Toad
Steven bounded through the grass and into the bushes while the earth shook all around him. Diving under a pile of sticks, he tried to hide himself. He wriggled further and further into the brush, the moist dirt sticking to his chest. Behind him, the shouts of the children thundered through the air and caused the ground to vibrate almost as much as their giant feet.
Suddenly, he heard the snapping of branches as a hand reached into his hiding spot. He could feel one of the children’s fingers running down his back. He just hoped they wouldn’t recognize him, but soon another joined in.
He tried to move further in, but he was stuck. The only way out was behind him. He waited in silence as still as he could as the fingers groped at him, pulling him ever so slightly out of the bushes. He grasped onto the sticks, but he was no match for their strength.
Pulled up high into the air, Steven contracted himself into as small a ball as he could. Everywhere he looked, it was a massive drop the ground, and the child kept hoisting him higher, up to her own eye level.
How do these creatures live so high up. How do they even get so big
Steven shook and cried out for them to put him down. Soon, he felt a wet stream running underneath him. The child immediately lowered her hand, opening it just enough to where he could squirm his way out. He looked over the edge of the child’s hand and swallowed. Staying their prisoner would be certain death; however jumping might also kill him. He calculated his odds.
He blinked and made his move, leaping away from the child as he began tumbling through the air. He flipped once, twice, three times before landing in the grass on his back. The fall stunned him for a moment as he tried to right himself, but he didn’t think he was hurt.
His endocrine glands dumped all their available adrenaline into his blood; his tiny heart beat as fast as it could to distribute the life saving drug. The child, still shaking off the urine from her hand, stopped her pursuit for the time being. He quickly hopped over towards the pond and dove under a rock, out of sight from the child. Here he would be safe.
Suddenly, he heard the snapping of branches as a hand reached into his hiding spot. He could feel one of the children’s fingers running down his back. He just hoped they wouldn’t recognize him, but soon another joined in.
He tried to move further in, but he was stuck. The only way out was behind him. He waited in silence as still as he could as the fingers groped at him, pulling him ever so slightly out of the bushes. He grasped onto the sticks, but he was no match for their strength.
Pulled up high into the air, Steven contracted himself into as small a ball as he could. Everywhere he looked, it was a massive drop the ground, and the child kept hoisting him higher, up to her own eye level.
How do these creatures live so high up. How do they even get so big
Steven shook and cried out for them to put him down. Soon, he felt a wet stream running underneath him. The child immediately lowered her hand, opening it just enough to where he could squirm his way out. He looked over the edge of the child’s hand and swallowed. Staying their prisoner would be certain death; however jumping might also kill him. He calculated his odds.
He blinked and made his move, leaping away from the child as he began tumbling through the air. He flipped once, twice, three times before landing in the grass on his back. The fall stunned him for a moment as he tried to right himself, but he didn’t think he was hurt.
His endocrine glands dumped all their available adrenaline into his blood; his tiny heart beat as fast as it could to distribute the life saving drug. The child, still shaking off the urine from her hand, stopped her pursuit for the time being. He quickly hopped over towards the pond and dove under a rock, out of sight from the child. Here he would be safe.
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13 comments:
It must be tough being chased by something so much bigger. At least now he knows the secret to being released is to take a leak. :)
One of the reasons I never chase toads. Their expressions are already exasperated and tired; might as well leave the little dudes to their own devices.
I once got peed on by a rat. True story.
Glad Steven managed to get away. Poor little thing, being terrorised like that!
I never knew toads peed like that. Great characterisation, the toad seems almost human. Where did he get his name?
Glad Steven got away!
I don't think I would ever pick up a toad. Too gooey looking.
I suddenly feel bad for all the toads I used to catch as a kid.
Nice job portraying life from the toad's point of view.
Clever thing for the toad to do to get away. LOL
Oh poor Steven! Children are an inquisitive species ^_^
I'm glad he landed safely and got away.
Small typo found for you: "pulled up high into the air, Steven contracted himself into..... Pulled needs a capital following the full stop.
I should probably note that this story was inspired by the 'toad walks' my wife and I take each night. We've come to believe (or hope/pretend) that the toads are lucky. So I catch them and she pets them...needless to say I've dug one out of the bushes, and many of them take a leak (quite a leak sometimes) to get away.
Chuck: It's a pretty good escape method.
John: But they're lucky...
Icy: We don't terrorize them...in fact one particular toad greets us each night. Same place, same time. (Hope the rat pee didn't smell too bad)
flying: I just grabbed the name out of thin air. No reason for the name...just sounded human :)
Craig: Surprisingly they are not slimy or gooey at all.
Raven: Yea...ok fine. Me too. A little bit.
Tim: Thanks. I always figured that heights nothing for us would be terrifying as a small creature.
Sonia: I think it's built into their instincts.
Helen: Adults too can be inquisitive :) Thanks for catching the typo.
Poor toad. Glad Steven hopped to safety.
Better to be pissed off than pissed on, as the saying goes. At least, he found a way to break free.
I overcame my hatred of toads to read this. Glad I did :)
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