Do Frogs Drink Hot Cocoa?

Well now, I ain’t one to go spreadin’ falsehoods — not on a Friday, anyhow — but I swear on a stack of hymnals as high as your hat that I once seen a frog drink hot cocoa. And I don’t mean a polite little sip, neither. I mean he drank it down like a parched bootlegger at a whiskey barrel.

It happened over in Calhoun County, where such things tend to occur, on account of there bein’ no law against ‘em. I was sittin’ outside the saloon, mindin’ my own affairs, when along comes young Billy Joe Sampson with a cup of cocoa, steam risin’ off it like a locomotive. He says, “Watch this.”

Well, I braced myself, ‘cause any time Billy Joe says “watch this,” the undertaker starts oilin’ his tools.

He sets that cocoa right down in front of a big, solemn frog he called Jeremiah. That frog sat there like a green gentleman, hands folded neat as you please, starin’ at the cup as if considerin’ its eternal soul. Then quicker’n you can wink, he unrolled that tongue of his and whip! — the cocoa was gone, cup and all rattlin’ empty.

The crowd gasped, the Widow Perkins fainted dead away, and Billy Joe looked fit to declare Jeremiah for Congress. But the frog, well, he commenced to hiccuppin’. And these weren’t your everyday hiccups — no sir. Each one launched him three feet in the air, like a grasshopper with dynamite in its britches.

He bounded across the street, hiccupped through the blacksmith’s shop, knocked over two buckets of nails, and ricocheted smack into Deacon Wilkins’ outhouse. The Deacon come out yellin’ scripture, the frog shot out hiccuppin’ louder than before, and last, I seen of him he was bouncin’ off toward Rock Run, leavin’ a trail of cocoa-scented burps behind him.

Now, I don’t expect you to believe me — I wouldn’t believe me, neither, if I hadn’t been there. But I’ll tell you this much: frogs do drink cocoa, though they ain’t built to keep it. And if you ever meet one that asks for a marshmallow, you’d best decline, unless you’ve got a strong roof and a good lawyer.

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And, you know I would never leave you while neglecting the obligatory shameless self-promotion. New Yesterdays is available through the following links: Books-A-MillionBarnes & Noble, and Amazon as well as your favorite bookshops. The Audiobook is available from Libro.fm, as well as Amazon.

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About Ol' Big Jim

Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history. Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute. No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership. Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cup of tea while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing. When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining is of historical events should read from his past or imaginative reimaginings of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection. Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations. His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.
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3 Responses to Do Frogs Drink Hot Cocoa?

  1. Lifetime Chicago's avatar Lifetime Chicago says:

    Here we go!!!! lol….happy new year to you and all animals out there

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Ha ha ha. Good one, Jim

    Liked by 1 person

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