"Okay," said Ivy as she, Sylvia and Johan walked into town. "I don't know about you, but yesterday was the best Grubhog Day ever."

"Stai scherzando?" snarked Johan. "Rametto lost the grubhog, Anne pretended to be it with a sock puppet and she nearly had her hand chopped off when it was time for the 'grubhog' to be sacrificed. And the only thing keeping the townsfolk from tearing them apart is the puppet show Anne put up."

"Yeah, but I still got to go on the carnival rides with Sprig. And you got...that." Ivy pointed to the stuffed Anne doll.

"Lo uso per il tiro al bersaglio."

"It's a good thing Anne doesn't know you said that."

"How is Hopediah doing anyway, JoJo?" asked Sylvia.

"Not doing so well," said Johan. "Ever since he lost the stand and his food vending license, he and his family had to take a second job as bounty hunters. It was my suggestion."

"Bounty hunters?! Boy, have you lost your mind?!"

"It was either that, or they'd have to do the other job I suggested," Johan defended himself. "And that's waste management. Anne refused to do it."

"So, where are they now?" asked Ivy.

"That's a good question."

Somewhere behind a dark alley, the Plantar family were conducting a..."family meeting". "Now kids, just 'cause we lost the family stand and I lost my food vending license doesn't mean we can't sell our produce out of a janky wheelbarrow," said Hop Pop.

Anne looked at the rickety old wheelbarrow full of vegetables. Attached to it was a sign that said "Inquire Within". "This...This is pretty sad."

"I'd rather go back to being a bounty hunter," said Sprig.

"Are you kidding?" asked Polly as she put on a ski mask. "We are a criminal organization! Let's get criminalizing!"

Hop Pop ripped the ski mask off. "We may be part of a..." He gagged at the word. "...gang, but we still have our dignity!"

"Then why are we hiding in an alley?" asked Anne.

Hop Pop made a blank expression. "Um, stop asking questions and follow my lead." He snuck up to a frog woman and whispered to her, "Psst, lady. Wanna buy an eggplant?" He stopped his act when he saw who it was. "Sylvia?!"

Sylvia smiled and hugged him. "Hi, sweet potato."

"Hi, JoJo," said Polly.

"Ciao. So, how's the bounty hunter job, Anne?"

"Well, I got shot at, Sprig nearly got eaten and Polly literally shoved her flail up our target's butt. He came quietly after that."

"You are getting paid, though, right?" Sprig answered his question by holding up a money bag. Johan took it from him and shook it in his hand a little. "Not much."

"Ram Bamboo wanted the guy to be unscathed," said Sprig. "And that incident with the flail made him...what was it she called him? Damaged goods."

Meanwhile, a blushing Hop Pop was stammering, lost for words. "Now, let's take a look at your veggies," said Sylvia. Hop Pop stammered in response. "Oh, I'll take this one." She picked out a gourd that was shaped like Hop Pop's head. "I've always had a soft spot for the weird ones." Hop Pop's face turned red. "Well, I better be going. Goodbye, Hoppy."

"Goodbye, Sylvia," Hop Pop babbled.

Anne, Sprig, Polly, Johan and Ivy saw everything. Johan leaned in and whispered in Ivy's ear, "Is it me, or is Hopediah totally crushing on your grandmother?"

"Eww!"

"What?" exclaimed Sprig.

"I didn't think that was possible," said Polly.

Anne chuckled slyly. "Hop Pop, you dog!"

Hop Pop turned redder than ever as he said, "No, I'm not crushing on anyone!" He paused. "Okay, maybe a little."

Johan said, "Dude, if you really like her, tell her how you feel."

The old frog sighed sadly. "I wish I could. But you saw how I was back there. I have trouble even putting sentences together. I wish there was another way to let Sylvia know how I feel." The sound of hammering caught his attention. "Hmm. Kids, watch the wheelbarrow for a second."

Hop Pop followed the sound where he saw Toadie nailing a large notice to the message board. It said, "The honorable Mayor Toadstool invites you to catch DANCE FEVER! FAMILY FUN! SHENANIGANS! ROMANCE! Tonight from 6PM to" and it cut off from there.

"Dance Fever!" announced Toadie. "With family fun, shenanigans! Romance! Tonight from 6:00 p.m. till...Hmmmmm?" Apparently, even he did no know when it will end.

This intrigued Hop Pop. Then he heard Sylvia say, "Been a long time since I've danced with someone. Might be nice to feel the embrace of a man."

"Mom," said an embarrassed Felicia.

Hop Pop chuckled nervously again. Suddenly he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. He turned around only to get poked in the face by a blue frog wearing a brown jacket and matching cap. "Ha-ha! Classic, gullible Hopediah!"

Hop Pop frowned at him with disdain. "Oh. Hey, Monroe."

Anne, Johan and the frog kids watched from the alley. "Who is that?" asked Anne.

"That's Monroe," said Sprig. "He and Hop Pop have been rivals forever."

"Monroe wins at pretty much everything," said Polly. "Lawn bowling, shuffleboard, other old man activities."

"Even drooling?" joked Johan.

"Yep."

"Wait, seriously?"

"You're not seriously thinking of going to this thing, are you? Wouldn't want to embarrass yourself like last year's barn dance fiasco," said Monroe with a guffaw. "See you around, old-timer."

Hop Pop pointed at him and shouted, "Oh, we'll see about that, Monroe. We'll see."

"So," said Johan. "What happened at the barn dance?"

"He ran inside and slipped on an ice cube," said Sprig.

When the Plantars returned to their home, Hop Pop locked himself in his study. "Can't dance, huh?" he muttered as he took out a book titled "So, You Think You Can Dance? A Beginner's Guide". "We'll see about that." He opened the book to chapter one. "Looks easy enough." He went to grab his practice dummy, a mop. "Sorry, Sylvia. And a-one, and a-two and-" He took one step forward and snapped the mop in two before crashing into the bookshelf. He sighed sadly. "Looks like it's hopeless."

Suddenly, the whole house shook to the sound of a bass. "What in tarnation?!" It seemed to be coming from the cellar.

Hop Pop found Anne, dancing to some K-Pop music coming from her phone. It was sitting in a bucket turned on it's side, making it a makeshift boombox. He stared, transfixed by her dancing. "Anne can dance?"

But then Anne saw the old frog staring and she let out a yell of shock. She crashed to the floor as one of her shoes flew off and hit Hop Pop in the face, knocking him to the ground.

Getting up, Anne stopped the music. "Hop Pop, what the heck, dude?" She asked with a hand on her head.

"Anne, I need your help!" Hop Pop exclaimed.

"What?"

Hop Pop explained as he showed her the poster for the dance. His rivalry with Monroe and his want to express his feelings to Sylvia in the form of a dance. "That's why I'm begging you. Teach me your ways! I can't tell Sylvia how I feel, but maybe I can show her by dancing with her."

"Huh. Never figured you for a hopeless romantic, Hop Pop. Let's do this thing."

"Hey, um, think we could keep this just between us?"

"You got it, HP. My lips are sealed."

Outside, Anne and Hop Pop were at a clearing with Johan, Sprig, Polly and Ivy sitting on a nearby log. "Whoo! Dance it up, Hop Pop!" shouted Sprig.

"Shake that booty!" shouted Polly.

Ivy and Johan said nothing as they shared a bag of popcorn.

Hop Pop glared at Anne. "What happened to the zipped lips?"

"Couldn't help it. This is just too juicy," said Anne. The girl had changed clothes and was wearing a green undershirt with a slightly darker pink T-Shirt, dark brown athletic shorts complemented by fuzzy pink legging cuffs and she had her hair tied in a bun with a green ribbon and a white headband. "Besides, when I'm done with you, you and Sylvia will be locking lips by the end of the night."

Sprig and Ivy groaned in disgust. Johan said, "Non voglio immaginarlo."

"Dude, that's my grandmother you're talking about!" shouted Ivy.

Anne turned on the phone, which was sitting in another popcorn bucket. "Lesson one. Footwork," she said. She tapped her foot first before she started dancing to the beat of the music. She then stopped and signaled for Hop Pop to try with finger guns. The old frog tried, only to trip on his feet and land in a fire ant nest. He let out a scream of agony. "IT BURNS! IT BURNS!"

Johan chuckled as he recorded everything with his phone. "This is SOOO going to be on America's Funniest Home Videos."

"Lesson two. Rhythm." To demonstrate, Anne tapped a bucket with a hammer to the beat of the music. Hop Pop tried to do the same, only to miss and hit his foot with the hammer. Anne cringed.

"Lesson three. Freestyle. Freestyle is expressing yourself in your own unique way."

Anne went first, before ending in a pose. Johan did the "Torture Dance" as Mista called it. Ivy danced the Macarena. When it was Sprig's turn, he did flips with both his feet and his tongue. Polly, having no legs, bounced up and down happily, before Anne spun her around and the tadpole gave a pose.

And then it was Hop Pop's turn. He flopped around like a fish, stood on one foot and squawked like a bird and finished with a pose. "Ta-da!" He panted a little before he said, "Whoo! I gotta say, that's the first lesson I actually felt good-"

Johan burst out laughing and tears rolled down his face. "Oh, my stomach hurts," he said between laughs. "That's the funniest thing I've ever seen! He looked like he got possessed by a demon!"

Anne grabbed Hop Pop by the cheeks and got in his face. "Hop Pop, if you wanna win over Sylvia... Never do freestyle again!"

Throughout the rest of the day, Anne helped Hop Pop with his footwork and rhythm. Afterwards, they moved onto more advanced lessons like how to move your arms while dancing and even poses. And as the sun started to set over the horizon, the two humans and the frog kids watched as Hop Pop did some dance moves on his own. He had made staggering progress and was now able to dance just as good as Anne.

"Whoa! Yeah, Hop Pop!" cheered Sprig.

"Miracles happen!" exclaimed Polly.

"Grandma's gonna be impressed!" said Ivy.

Johan nodded. "Even Zio Narancia would be impressed."

"Nice work, Hop Pop," said Anne. "Or maybe I should call you 'Hip Hop'?" SLAP! "Ouch! JoJo!"

"Niente giochi di parole, Anne."

"That reference means nothing to me, Anne," said Hop Pop. "And I don't know what you said, JoJo."

Ivy suddenly jumped on Johan's head and shouted, "Guys, there's only ten minutes till the dance. Come on!"

"Oh, we gotta go!" Anne shouted as she grabbed Hop Pop by the arm.

It was night time. The dance took place at a barn and the dance floor was lit up. There was a band playing old time ragtime music and a table that served Passione's absinthe. There were many adult frogs that came to the dance. Some had dates, and some didn't.

Anne and her friends were dressed for the occasion. Anne wore a dark marine blue dress with her hair tied onto one side with a blue ribbon. Johan wore a green tuxedo, a white undershirt and a red bowtie (He really likes dressing like the flag of Italy, doesn't he?). Sprig wore a dark green tuxedo that was a bit too big for him and had his hair slicked. Polly only wore a top hat. Ivy wore a silver dress with a yellow flower. Hop Pop wore a dark brown tuxedo with a purple flower.

"I gotta say, as long as you're not being forced to date someone, dances ain't half bad," said Sprig.

"Amen to that," said Ivy, who still had horrible memories of the time Hop Pop, Felicia and Anne tried to make the two of them go out with each other.

Hop Pop tugged at his collar nervously, then spotted Sylvia by the drink table. "She's here! I feel like I'm gonna faint. Can frogs faint? I don't know anything anymore!"

"Relax." Johan summoned DARE, who pressed a finger on Hop Pop's head, giving him an effect similar to anesthesia. He fell to his knees and babbled away and drooled.

"You overdid it," said Anne. She snapped Hop Pop out of it and said, "Hop Pop, calm down. You are the king of this dance floor! You walk right up to that lovely lady and ask her to dance."

"Still my grandma you're talking about," said Ivy.

Hop Pop nodded with confidence. "Hmm! I got this," he said as he walked forward.

"Get it!" shouted Anne.

Hop Pop approached Ivy's grandmother and stammered, "S-S-Sylvia? Uh..."

Suddenly, Monroe cut in front of him and said, "Sylvia Sundew! Would you do me the honor of this dance?"

Anne and the frog kids gasped. Johan sipped his punch. "Oh, that's not good."

"Why, Monroe. I'd be delighted," said Sylvia.

Hop Pop did NOT want to lose this chance to Monroe, so he did the one thing he could think of. "Sylvia! Dance with me instead!"

Sylvia smiled. "Well, Hopediah."

"HIM?!" scoffed Monroe. "Ha! He can't dance."

"I can dance better than you. I've been trained by the best, and I'm gonna take you down!"

"Is that so? Then let's settle this."

"This is getting good," Johan said.

"Come on, guys. Hop Pop's gonna need backup," Anne said, before she gulped down her drink and threw it away before joining Hop Pop's side.

The frogs around Hop Po and Monroe moved out of the way, forming a circle around them as they stood facing each other. Anne, Sprig, Polly, Johan and Ivy came sliding in behind Hop Pop. Anne snapped her fingers, as if to say, "Bring it!"

"Oh! What's this?" Mayor Toadstool asked, intrigued by what he was seeing. He grabbed a mike from the stage and spoke into it. "It appears two stallions have taken to the floor and are about to battle it out!"

Hop Pop went first and did a combination of all the moves Anne taught him. He also did Johan's "Torture Dance" and Ivy's version of the Macarena. He came to a stop and posed. Everyone was impressed while Anne and the kids cheered him on.

"A solid effort by Hopediah Plantar!" said Toadstool. "But how will Monroe respond?"

Dusting off his right shoulder, Monroe chuckled and started walking forward before he threw away his hat and began to dance. At that moment, Johan knew Hop Pop lost. Monroe's dance moves were superior compared to Hop Pop and even Anne's skills. Anne, Ivy and the Plantars gasped, before the Thai girl said in defeat, "Oh, no." Monroe continued to perform an excellent dance routine, before ending it with a breakdance and a pose as a stage light shined down on him. Everyone cheered for Monroe and Syliva was very impressed.

"Well, looks like that's it for Hopediah," said Toadstool. "Unless he has something special or unique to show."

"Well, we're screwed," said Johan. "He's even got Anne beat."

"Well, we did our best," said Sprig. "And isn't that what counts?"

"WHAT KIND OF LOSER TALK IS THAT?!" shouted Polly.

"I do not want that jerk going out with grandma," snapped Ivy.

"But JoJo's right," said Anne as she sat down. "I honestly don't know what to do. Monroe's just a better dancer."

Then Hop Pop thought of an idea. One that would probably humiliate him, but in this case, it was worth it. "Well, then I guess I'll just have to express myself in my own unique way."

Anne gasped in realization. "Wait, you don't think he's gonna..." said Sprig with horror.

Anne and the kids knew exactly what he was going to do. "Oh, no. Hop Pop! Hop Pop!"

Johan giggled as he took out his phone and began to record. "This is gonna be good."

Hop Pop went back onto the dance floor and said, "Sylvia, I don't think I'll ever be able to tell you how I feel about you. But I can show you. Hit it, boys!"

The band looked at each other and one of them said, "Uh, yeah. We've been hitting it, but okay."

They began to play and Hop Pop began to do his freestyle dance. First, he moved back and forth like a crab, then rolled his tongue around as he made gurgling sounds.

"Unbelievable!" exclaimed Toadstool. "I ain't never seen moves like those. It's horrifying."

Hop Pop spun around with his tongue in the air as he made a whooping sound. Then, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a jar of fire ants (WHERE DID HE GET THOSE?!) and stuffed them down his pants. He screamed and flailed his arms about while his feet at amazing speeds, causing a Ripple-induced fire to start. Then he grabbed the punch bowl and doused himself and the fire out before he yelled, "TA-DA!"

Everyone stared in shock and horror.

Anne hid her face with her hands. "Is it safe to look yet?"

The kids had their faces hidden as well. "No idea," said Sprig.

"Couldn't tell you," said Polly.

"I don't even WANT to know," said Ivy.

Johan just kept laughing.

"Oho, yikes. Well, I think it's clear who the winner is," Monroe said with a smug look on his face. The townsfolk agreed with him. Hop Pop's smile vanished and looked down in sadness. "Come along, Sylvia. No need to waste time with losers."

A downhearted Hop Pop turned to leave, only to stop when Sylvia called out, "Oh, Hopediah!"

"Huh?"

To everyone's shock, Sylvia started doing a freestyle dance just like Hop Pop's. They all gasped and Monroe said, "Wha- She's as freaky as he is! The horror!"

Hop Pop's sad look was replaced with a smile and he joined her in the dance. Everyone groaned and gasped with disgust and horror.

"This is not for children's eyes!" shouted a mother frog.

Anne and the kids looked away. "Why? Why?!"

Johan was still laughing and recording the whole thing. "Penso di aver appena pisciato un po'!"

It was too much for the crowd. "Okay! That's enough of that," shouted Toadstool. "Pack it up. Dance is over! Everyone go home!" The townsfolk were very quick and very eager to leave right then and there.

Hop Pop and Sylvia stopped dancing and stood there, panting and laughing. "I don't get it," said Hop Pop. "Why?"

Sylvia replied, "I have a soft spot for the weird ones, remember?"

Hop Pop's face turned pink and he stammered again. "Ah, shame the dance is over. I could dance for hours with you."

"Why not?" asked Johan. "Sprig!" He tossed the boy frog a violin and he hopped on stage. He gave Hop Pop a wink. Ivy went over to his side and began to sing.

"Pienso que un sueño parecido no volverá más
Y me pintaba las manos y la cara de azul
Y de improviso el viento rápido me llevó
Y me hizo volar en el cielo infinito

"Volaré, oh-oh
Cantaré, oh-oh-oh-oh
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassù"

Hop Pop cleared his throat and asked, "Ahem, may I have this dance, Sylvia Sundew?"

"Why, yes you may, Hopediah Plantar."

As the two waltzed, Felicia sat on a log and smiled as she watched her mother dance. "That's the happiest I've ever seen her since Dad was alive."

As Anne and Polly watched, Johan cleared his throat and said, "May I have this dance, Anne Boonchuy?"

Anne raised an eyebrow. "Really? You want to dance with me?"

"Why not? They look like they're having fun."

Anne thought it over and smiled. "Why not?"

He took her by the hand and led her to the dance floor. Although they suffered some missteps and almost tripped over each other, one would pull the other right back up and the two would laugh it off. Then they would resume dancing. "Wow. I never knew you had this soft side, JoJo," said Anne.

Johan chuckled. "Truth be told, I didn't know I did. I never really danced with anyone my age before, let alone a girl my age."

"Really? Who did you dance with?"

"I danced with my Zia Trish at her cousin's wedding. Though, she's not really my aunt, she's..."

"Let me guess. An old friend of the familia?"

Johan blushed a little. "Yes."

Anne said, "Well, I think you dance pretty good."

Johan gaped a little before he smiled. "Grazie."

Anne blushed and said, "You're welcome."

That smile is...kinda cute, they both thought.

Seeing this, Polly frowned. "I'm feel left out."

Felicia approached her and asked, "May I have this dance, madame?"

"Thought you'd never ask," Polly replied as she hopped into her arms.

Meanwhile, Ivy and Sprig resumed the song.

"Pienso que un sueño parecido no volverá más
Y me pintaba las manos y la cara de azul
Y de improviso el viento rápido me llevo
Y me hizo ir a volar en el cielo infinito

"Volaré, oh-oh
Cantaré, oh-oh-oh-oh
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassù

"Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassù
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassù
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassù
Nel blu dipinto di blu"

It was a good night.

To Be Continued...