My friends, I have a problem and I need your advice. A number of years ago, while taking my grand daughter’s home, I saw a toad in a pond down the street from their house. This is no ordinary pond or toad for that matter. You see, the pond kinda comes and goes with the seasons. Sometimes it is dry as a bone. And other times it is full of reeds and ducks and other forms of life. I pointed it out to my sweet granddaughters, but they couldn’t see it. Then I realized, it might be the magic toad from Iroquois folk lore, Majapajagowin.
Most people don’t know that Majapajagowin is a very shy toad. He can also make himself invisible if he wants. That comes in real handy for a shy toad.
Anyway, back to my story. As the years went by, and the girls started to grow up, I kept hoping that they would get a glimpse of Maja. Sometimes the pond was there and sometimes it was not. Every once and a while when the pond was there, I would see a big splash. But I never saw Majapajagowin again.
Until last month when Grandma Mickey and I were there to visit. When we got there, I noticed that the pond was very full. It had rained the last couple of days and spring was starting. We had a fun visit. We saw Evie, do her Irish dance. (very cool). We had a wonderful talk with Collette. And Hazel and I played a game. (she won, darn it) It was time for Mickey and Me to head back to Asbury. We said our goodbyes and headed out. She was driving her SUV and I was looking out of the window. It was then, that I saw some movement by the pond. I whispered for her to stop the car. I snuck out the door and down to the pond. Sure enough, there was Majapajagowin in all of his splendor. I knew right then, I wanted the girls to finally get a chance to see the magic toad. I didn’t think. I just reacted. I jumped and caught him by his back legs. That was when something really weird happened. He really didn’t try to get away. He just turned and gave me a wink. The next second, I was holding a stone toad. I was so surprised, I didn’t know what to do. Majapajagowin had turned himself to stone.
After talking to Mickey, we finally decided to put him in the car and take him to Iowa with us. It has been a number of weeks now, and Maja, has not turned back. My dilemma is what to tell my darling granddaughters.
Do I tell them the entire story? Or do I just hope they don’t notice the big stone toad in front of our house?