Frogs

FROGS

In the early spring, my Dad would crank up
the old John Deere tractor. This one had a great big round wheel on the
side that you turned to get it started. I was almost tall enough to
reach it, but I thought he couldn't start the thing if I didn't help
him turn it. I was his right hand girl. This tractor was so loud that
you couldn't hear anything when it was running.

He would hook the disk on the back of the tractor and turn the ground
over to get it ready for planting. It went deep down into the ground
weighted by heavy logs, to loosen the dirt and mix it up.

It was my job to bring him cold water in a fruit jar. I loved this job
it ment I might get to ride with him for a turn or two. I would stand
between his legs and hold on to the wheel to help drive. I was in
heaven then, You see my Dad was my hero.

Today I was watching from the window to see how far away he was, I
didn't want to rush him, better chance for a ride that way. Okay I
thought time I get the water pumped off cold, He should be just far
enough.

If you have ever been around chickens, you'll know that if they see you
running, they start running too right behind you. I took off running
and here they came right behind. All at once from the ground frogs
started jumping all over the place.

These frogs were so small they looked like large bugs. They were the
color of limes. Hundreds of them. Here came all the chickens and the
neighbors chickens after the frogs. By the time I got to my Dad,
running along side the tractor so he would see me and stop, I was
scared to death, I didn't know what was happening.

Of course he knew. Daddy I yelled here's you some water, please can I
have a ride, There's frogs lots of em, and there after me. The chickens
are trying to help me but they can't eat em fast enough. Looking behind
us there was probably two hundred chickens following eating the frogs
and worms that the disk turned over. Every body was happy that day,
except for the frogs that is. Daddy got his water, I got to ride, and
them chickens got their fill of baby frogs.