Childrens Book-Adventure #3-Mike E. Meanderer Meets: Terrance T Toad Poem by Christine K. Trease

I started out once again today
Down the path, looking for an adventure.
I had been at home for too many days now
For a boy of my wandering nature.

Before I had reached the end of the path
That leads from my house to everywhere,
I looked upon a speckled toad
And wondered how he got there.

I paused to ask the toad for his name
But before I could get out a word,
He started in croaking to tell me his tale
And this is what I heard:

“Hello there kind sir” said the toadie,
“Terrance T. Toad is my name.
All of my friends call me Triple T.
Please look at my leg, it’s gone lame.

It all started day before yesterday
when in torrents it pored down the rain.
The flooding began, and swept over the land,
it tossed me, it turned me, it tumbled my brain.

It threw me from pasture to pasture,
it thrashed me from pillar to post.
I was frug through the muck and the mire,
and although I don’t mean to boast,

a regular common type toadie
would never have made it through this,
but I held myself quite together,
though I’ve injured my leg and my wrist.

The worst of my misfortune
is the injury to my leg.
Won’t you please take a look at the hind one
It’s rather demeaning to beg”.

I reached for the toad with my right hand
and I tried to conceal my glee.
I did an examination
while bending down on one knee.

“You should take some time off for healing,
your leg has been stretched, pulled, and torn.
You’re welcome to come stay at my house.
Toad, why are you looking forlorn? ”

The toad looked at me so bewildered,
and in voicing is qualms and his druthers,
he said, “little boy, ” not knowing my name,
“I assure you, I’m hated by mothers.”

He tucked in his legs, and with a great heave,
he started in trying to leap.
He opened his eyes and to his dismay,
he couldn’t even creep.

I told him, “now listen here toadie,
my mom is just not like the others,
She’s acquired a strong will from living with me,
I tell you, she’s a jewel among mothers.

Some of the creatures I’ve brought to my house
would send normal mothers out screaming
but not good old mom, the jewel of them all,
if I help you her face will be beaming, ”

The toad retorted, “that’s hard to believe,
but my options are nearly exhausted.
So, I’m at your mercy, and you call the shots,
I have no strength to argue, I’ve lost it.

I should stay somewhere so my leg can heal,
I need a warm meal and a bed.
I’m hoping your judgment is of a sound mind,
I just hope that you mom won’t see red.”

Then into my pocket I placed him,
and trotted off back down the lane.
I thought to myself if mom lost it,
I’d have only myself to blame.

For I wasn’t too sure she would like toad,
I was out on a limb I was sure,
But I must find some way I could help him,
I must be his miracle cure.

I couldn’t just leave him there ailing,
I had to give toadie a hand,
and when I explained this to mother,
I was hoping that she’s understand.

I opened the door, my voice slightly cracked,
as I called out to mother, “yoo hoo.”
She came from the kitchen with four on her hands,
and she said, “Mike E. dear, is that you? ”

I answered, Yes mother, it’s Mike E.”
and I said with the utmost of charm,
“I’ve found a new friend who needs helping,
I’ll try not to cause you alarm.”

My fingers they trembled like crazy,
my guts were a bundle of nerves,
I clenched Triple T in the pa, of my hand,
at best, I expected the worst.

I eased him out slow from my pocket,
I raised him up careful, chest high,
I said, “Mother dear, this is toadie, ”
and mother began to cry.

In total dismay I was puzzled,
not knowing the right words to say.
Then mother came walking toward me,
I said, “I was hoping I may…….”

But the words became stuck in my voice box,
and I stood there awaiting her wrath.
But she said in a sort of compassionate tone,
“It looks like you need a warm bath, ”

She reached for the poor ailing toadie,
and took him away to the sink.
She gave him a bath and some dinner,
and something warm to drink.

M mother in all of her glory
cared for the toadie until
his leg was all healed, his wrist a O.K.
Then we turned him out loose on the hill.

I saw the strangest sight that day,
from my mother so mild and so meek.
When Terrance hopped off down the long grassy hill,
a tear rolled from my momma’s cheek.

she said, “I will miss little toadie, ”
in a way he indebted my mother.
He allowed her the pleasure of serving
and of giving herself to another.

And once in a while, from time to time,
when she gets a strange gleam in her eye,
I remember the toadie that touched her heart,