A Cup Of Frog

I don't want to say that my community is unusual, but...

A bit over a year ago, on a warm summer day, the doorbell rang. It was my across-the-street neighbor, or at least the female half of the couple, accompanied by one of her human children. She had a request:

"May I borrow a frog?"

I fancy myself to be reasonably unflappable, either because I'm quick witted or simply stunned. Unable to decide which to be in this case, I did what I often do: I asked my housemate.

"She wants to borrow a frog. OK?"

"Sure, as long as she brings it back."

Whew! That was easy! Downstairs we went to the frog pond. "Help yourself" I said to her and to her child, and returned to doing whatever it was that I do.

A few hours later she returned the frog. I was disappointed to learn that our frog did not win the contest in which it been enrolled. No, I don't recall the details of the contest, but I assume it was somehow related to "hopping." Apparently ad-hoc frogs are no match for the larger, highly-trained ones possessed by the more avid contestants. This year there was no request. Perhaps the contest has been discontinued. Or her child has his own frog now. If I find out I'll be sure to do a follow-up.