"Alright spill," I said. "Why were you stealing chocolate bars from the sweet shop?"

Topaz and I were outside the shop, just walking along the road.

"Are you homeless, is that it? Do I have to pretend to feel sorry for you and give you my spare change?"

"I might be," Topaz said. "Don't give me your money though, we're friends now, and it would look patronizing."

My face dropped. Was Topaz really homeless? I was joking earlier, but I could see I'd been kind of insensitive.

"Really?" I said. "Where are your parents?"

"They're…away."

"Dead?"

"No," Topaz stated immediately. "But as good as."

I blinked. "What?"

Topaz shook his head. "Nothing, why does it matter?"

"Topaz, we're friends now, please tell me."

"You'll look down on me."

"I won't," I said. "I promise."

"Well, my Papa's doing time in the slammer."

"He's a criminal?"

"Just like me."

"But he does serious crimes?"

"You bet. Robbery, blowing stuff up for effect, he even killed someone once."

"Intense stuff!"

"Yeah, he's number one criminal now, most wanted, world's most dangerous frog, you name it, my Papa's done it."

World's most dangerous frog.

Where had I heard that phrase before?

Then it hit me.

"You don't mean…Constantine?"

The very name sent shivers up my spine. I had never met Constantine, but from the movie I knew that my mum and dad had. And that didn't go well.

Topaz nodded. "Yep, that's my Papa," he said. "I hero-worship him, he's truly inspiring, don't you think?"

I just about nodded. Inside I was thinking No, no, no! But I didn't want to get on the wrong side of Topaz. He was a fierce guy.

"So, that's my story, now tell me, who are you?" Topaz asked.

"Well," I said. "I'm Jasmine…Kermit the Frog's daughter."

Topaz immediately scoffed in disgust. "How I detest that frog!"

I was taken aback. "What? Why?"

"He threw my Papa in jail! He stuck his nose in and messed up all of his plans…our plans."

"But you're dad's a criminal, he deserved it."

Topaz suddenly lashed out and threw me against a wall, similar to the way I had in the shop.

"How dare you! My Papa never did anything wrong! Anything! And now thanks to your dad, I'm all alone. Do you have any idea what it's like when Papa's in jail?"

I shook my head, I had no idea.

"It's horrible. So lonely and frightening, you wonder if anyone cares a jot about you. So many people turn away in disgust just because of what my Papa does. But why does it matter?"

Topaz got off me and turned his face away in shame.

"It's not that I don't love my Papa, I love him more than anyone else in the world, but I wish his reputation didn't have to affect me so much."

I didn't really know what to say.

"What about your mother?" I asked.

"I haven't got one, why does it matter?" Topaz said with a sigh. "She ran off a couple of years ago. That's mostly why Papa does the things he does."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he's a criminal, isn't he? A thief. He blows things up to get rid of his anger. Steals things to drown out his sorrows. It doesn't work, but he does it anyway. Sometimes he gets really angry."

"How angry?"

"Super angry, it's usually only if I bring something up that he doesn't like. Sometimes, I get so scared, I think he's going to smack me one."

"He doesn't, does he?"

"No! Papa may be a bad frog, but he's a good dad. He'd never hurt me."

But Topaz looked unsure. I glanced at the scar under his left eye; it was a T shape, appropriate for his name.

I was not convinced.

"Why does it matter, anyway?"

"Why do you keep saying that?" I asked. "Is it like your blooming catchphrase or something?"

"Why does that matter?"

I grinned, hoping this is a joke. Thankfully, it was.

"Honestly though," he said. "I think it's a better catchphrase than my Papa's."

"What's that then?"

"'Who cares'."

"Well…" I thought for a moment. "I don't care, and why does that matter?"

Topaz laughed. I felt so proud that I had made him laugh. I liked Topaz…a lot.

"I wish I had a catchphrase," I said.

"Well, if you ask me, your catchphrase would be 'Now tell me your entire life story'. But-"

"Why does it matter?" we both said in unison and roared with laughter.

We were in the park by this point. Topaz sat on one of the swings and gently swung back and fourth, kicking up his heels. I did likewise.

We talked for a while, but soon my tummy started growling as I remembered that I didn't actually bought anything from the shop.

"Man, I'm starving," I said.

"Say no more," Topaz said with a grin. He was eying a picnic some little five-year-olds were having.

"No, Topaz," I pleaded. "Don't nick it, not from them."

He shook his head. "Nah, alright. I'll use my other tactic, the guilt trick!"

"What's the guilt trick?"

"To put it simply, you beg people for money."

I didn't approve, but it was better than stealing.

Topaz scanned the park for a good person, then he gave a laugh.

"Who's that stupid toff over there? He's perfect."

I looked to see where he was pointing.

There was a pig trying desperately to look cool in black jeans and failing. He had bright green eyes and a mop of unruly, curly blond hair.

I knew that pig.

"That's my brother," I said.

"Ah."

Poor Axel. He always tried so hard to be cool, but he took after Mum. While I was more down to earth like Dad, Axel was a fussy perfectionist who practically hated the outside. Ironic considering his species.

Even now as he was walking over to us, he picked his way through the litter dropped on the ground by little kids, a look of disgust on his face.

"Alright?" said Topaz slowing down his swinging in an effort to look casual. "Who are you?"

"Who are you?" Axel retorted.

"I asked first."

Axel crossed his arms. "I'm Axel," he said. "Jasmine's brother."

"Topaz," Topaz declared. "Couldn't spare any change, could you?"

"Not to you," Axel said disapprovingly. He turned to me. "Come on, home."

"Who are you? My baby-sitter?" I declared.

"No, I'm the poor kid who Dad sent out to try and find you. Do you know you've been gone nearly half and hour?"

"Oh big deal," I said, but I obediently got off the swing.

I looked at Topaz. "Will I see you again?" I asked.

He nodded. "You can be sure of that," he said.

I felt a warm glow inside.

Sorry it was so long, I got carried away because these two are so cute together!