Round two at the Market.
Hop Pop had wanted Anne to stay home from the market, after everything that had happened yesterday, After how Scumdrop had treated her he thought she deserved the day off. However to his shock she had insisted on coming, claiming that Anne Plantar could handle this.
Anne Plantar. It still seemed weird. Despite the fact that she was from another world, represented everything that he hated about the world and was overall extremely lazy. He had grown fond of her, there were still moments when the human could be bothersome but the more he thought about it he had come to enjoy the strange creature that had come to stay with them, Now that was gone.
Anne was currently in the wagon wearing the same homemade dress she had revealed to them yesterday. she had changed her hair, The bush full of leaves and twigs was not tied back. Anne had shown him a picture of her mother once during a trip to Thai Land. He thought she resembled the elder Boonchuy.
Hop Pop Personally didn't care as far as he was concerned life was a journey of having hair until you eventually went bald (Hopediah Plantar's view towards hair had become worryingly nihilistic since losing his own.)
She had also given up shoes now. When did he ask her why she had responded with Why not, most frogs in town don't wear shoes so why should she?
All of this just seemed wrong. It was as if the vocal brave girl he had grown to respect was changing for others and that scared him. However, he tried to ignore that for now. Right now they needed money, They needed to sell vegetables.
…
The day started off pretty well With the Plantars selling their produce. No one really seemed to notice the new Anne. There were the usual lookers. Including that Toad from yesterday. However, some of the lookers started to just move on. the toad was the only exception, it was like Anne wasn't interesting anymore, now that she just ignored them.
If anything things seemed to be quiet, Business seemed to be normal.
That's when they heard the voice.
"Ladies and Gentlefrogs today we shall see how the beast is secretly poisoning your food."
Hop Pop's fists tightened.
Sprig walked to the stall and reached below the counter for his catapult.
Polly was preparing to pounce upon the professor.
Anne just closed her eyes, breathed in, and breathed out.
Professor Scumdrop was leading a crowd of Wartwood inhabitants behind him, Most of them were recognizable to the family. But the ones that really stood out were Ms. Croaker, One-eyed Wally, and confusingly Stumpy.
Anne saw him amongst the crowd and felt a bit hurt. Only for a while, It was Anne Boonchuy who had helped him, Anne Plantar had no reason to expect such loyalty.
"So Ms. Beast are you continuing with your attempts to lower these poor frogs' guard before you devour them all?" Demanded Scumdrop.
"No I'm just selling vegetables," replied Anne trying to keep a calm tone. She wasn't going to let him get her.
"See how easily she lies, Like there's nothing on her conscience, Like all monsters who hide in the shadow"
"Or she's just selling vegetables. You stuck up, poor excuse for a Kindergarten teacher." Said Stumpy.
Anne smiled, Stumpy wasn't here as part of the mob, He was here to defend her, A part of her wanted to cry.
Scumdrop turned to stumpy. "Mr... What is your name?"
"Stumpy Stumperson," said the large frog. He was giving the newt a glare that said "I wouldn't even feed you slug pie."
"Is that really your name?" Said Scumdrop with a large smile on his face
"Yes," said Stumpy.
Scumdrop laughed at stumpy's admission like it was the funniest thing in the world, Stumpy refused to be goaded into violence by a newt named Scumdrop.
"Mr. Stumperson," Scumdrop said in a manner one would use when talking to a particularly dull child "The Beast would do anything to and try to trick those with a feeble mind, to force them into doing It's bidding."
"So how did working in my restaurant a part of that?"
Scumdrop adopted a look of horror, "You mean this monster not only works at the farm near here but also prepared food for this town. How could you be so gullible?"
Stumpy gave him a look suggesting that he wanted to use one of the Heavier Metal prosthetics he owned on Scumdop's head. "She mostly forced her way in. but in she helped save my restaurant."
Scumdrop snorted. "And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. The beast was able to utterly convince one of the lower I. Q inhabitants of this quaint town into secretly poisoning you all."
The town murmured amongst themselves, Anne's guilt skyrocketed for Stumpy. Another victim of Anne Boonchuy's existence, just because he wanted to protect her, However, the large frog briefly looked at her gave her a brief smile, and nodded, As if to say "Don't worry, I can take this."
Scumdrop turned to Anne again "Selling Vegetables, HA How long before you start using your Armpits to inject your natural venom into these onions."
"None, Because I'm not going to do that. Normal frogs don't do that."
Scumdrop looked at her like she had just admitted that she was actually going to eat the town.
"What?" he said confused.
"Normal frogs don't eat other frogs."
"She's not wrong," said Wally Awkwardly looking left and right while whistling suspiciously, As if trying to avoid a dark secret.
Scumdrop froze. He had expected a lot of things but not that, (Anne's confession, Not Wally's secret, that was well known.)
"Ah... Ms. Beast." he said regaining some composure "You are not a frog."
"Who Says?"
An uncomfortable silence followed.
"That is ludicrous," Said the professor losing his cool, "There is no way you could be a frog."
"How do you know?" said Anne starting to smile, "I mean I dress like one don't I?" she motioned to her dress.
Scumdrop snorted. "Please. You think wearing clothes made out of patches makes you a part of Amphibian society, Besides It looks hideous."
"You got a problem with Hideous Patchwork clothes?" Said Wally glaring at the Professor.
Scumdrop noticed the glare and composed himself " I apologize but fashion does not define a frog, Other factors do."
"Like what?" asked Hop Pop.
"The ability to jump long distances." Said Scumdrop
Anne gave a little hop.
"That wasn't A long-distance," said Scumdrop offended.
"Well, It's longer than I can jump." Said Ms. Croaker.
"Fine," Said Scumdrop dismissing her, "Then What about the frog's natural Lengthy tongue?"
Anne picked up a Radish. Held it a few inches from her face, Stretched out her tongue, and licked it. She turned to Hop Pop "I'll pay for that later."
"Oh don't bother this is starting to get good." replied the elder Plantar.
"Well... Well... She doesn't eat bugs like a Frog." Said Scumdrop
"That would be true but last night, I ate Slug Pie," said Anne cockily.
"It's true." nodded Sprig, "I mean I thought she was insane but she did it."
Scumdrop was nearing the end of his leash "Just because she can do those things doesn't mean she's a frog"
"How do you know." Said Stumpy with a wicked smile on his face "I mean she might be deformed. It isn't nice to make fun of those born different."
The crowd murmured in agreement.
A vain was starting to throb on Scumdrops forehead "Then we should take her and let the experts prove what she is."
"The experts being you then?"
"Yes, Better me and my colleagues than some stupid Hick town frogs."
Scumdrop realized his mistake when he saw the small mob's was ire directed towards him.
"Um, Gentle Frogs of Wartwood, Hicks was more of an endearing term."
The mob stared at him. The Frogs of Wartwood lived for a good mob and if it wasn't going to be the beast of Wartwood. A fancy city academic would make a wonderful replacement.
All of a sudden the silence was broken by large Frog women wearing a tray with unlit torches. She was also Carrying several Pitchforks underneath her arms as well as one lit torch in her free hand.
"Get your pitchforks and torches here. Buy one get half off the other."
The Mob looked at her and started to pull out their money.
"Guys, Who's that?" Asked Anne.
"Oh that Geraldine, The Pitchfork and Torch saleswomen," Said Hop Pop
"Is there much need for that?" asked Scumdrop briefly forgetting the mob.
"Oh yeah, there's a mob forming like once a day in this town." Said Sprig.
"Huh, Good business model," replied Scumdrop nodding slightly.
The Plantars all murmured in agreement
"You know, She's never introduced herself to me." Said Anne.
"That bugs you?" replied Sprig.
"Well. Yeah."
"You don't have to know everyone in town Anne," said Polly.
"And she's kind of busy selling her wares," Said Scumdrop.
"I know but I have to be a small moneymaker for her, She could at least be polite." Said Anne pouting.
"We're ready," Said Wally Wielding two pitchforks. He was avoiding the offer, but he figured that a torchwood would be pointless in the middle of the day.
"Okay," Said Scumdrop coughing a little before screaming in terror and running in the opposite direction of the mob. The mob of course followed him, Followed by Geraldine, who was trying to return Ms. Croakers' change.
The only one that remained was Stumpy
"Ha, that was great." He said.
"Yeah, It's nice to see someone else being chased by the mob for once." Said Anne.
"Well, that was a nice distraction. But remember family we have things to sell, So get to work."
"Yes Hop Pop." said the younger Plantars.
"Oh Anne, Can I have a word?" asked Stumpy shyly. It looked kind of sweet on a frog that size.
Anne turned to Hop Pop who proceeded to roll his eyes towards her and nod
"Sure Stumpy, What do you want?"
"Well, I was wondering, Could you suggest. Some more Thai Food?"
Anne's face lit up. "Oh man you have to try Ideam Khanom Bung, It's..."
She stopped. Anne Boonchuy knew about Thai Food. Anne Plantar wanted to eat like everyone else.
"No Sorry I can't"
"What?"
"Sorry it's just, I don't really know how to make it," She said rubbing her arm while avoiding eye contact, "Also it's probably for the best that I don't. Remember last time and how much damage was caused I caused."
The look on Stumpy's face broke her heart "Oh, I see."
"Yeah. Sorry but I'm sure you can do well on your own."
"Yeah, I can. I'll see you later," And with that Stumpy walked off.
Anne stood there. Stumpy had just stood up for her, and she had turned him down when he needed help. But If Anne Plantar was going to survive in Wartwood. She needed to be more frog, Less Anne Boonchuy.
She kept thinking that for the first half of the day and yet Stumpy's look still haunted her.
