The fall Flash Fiction contest, with the theme “Frogs” was held on Sept. 28. Over the next few weeks, this paper will run the winning entries. Below is the fourth place winner. To read all the winners, go to: fremontculturalartscouncil.org.
A Boy Named Frog
By Edward SooHoo
James was born with a face only a mother could love. His head was huge, with two buggy eyes sitting atop a tiny nose but broad mouth. His tongue, even as an infant, was gigantic. While other babies sucked their thumbs, James would extend his tongue and lick his own forehead.
As James grew he was quickly labeled an oddity within the tiny mountain town. Not only because of his unconventional appearance—but also due to the strange way he walked. You see, James found it hard to take steps—left, right, left, right—like a normal person. He much preferred to leap from place to place, crouching and then propelling himself forward.
After a few years, James was gone—having been replaced by A Boy Named Frog. The other children, his school teachers, even the pastor at church used this name. The teasing was horrible, exacerbated by Frog’s tendency to have his overalls covered in mud from the nearby woods.
Frog did have one thing going for him in his life—he was a fantastic swimmer. The water was his natural element. No one could out-swim Frog. Not the other children, nor adults. One time an Olympic hopeful, a competitive swimmer from the nearby university, passed through the small town. Frog easily beat him by 10 lengths and made the young man cry.
As fate would have it the tiny mountain town was slated for development. A massive hotel and water park was planned, taking advantage of the area’s natural beauty. James successfully interviewed for a lifeguard position, baseball cap and sunglasses on his head to hide his shame.
A Boy Named Frog went on to a 30-year lifeguard career at the water park, retiring after saving hundreds of guests from drowning.
