#rivervale_lodge

"Ah, what's my fare?" Smith grins

"Enjoy our company, tell your stories when we are gathered."

"I will" He says

"Food" Brogan comes out with a tray, as do other kids

"For our guest"

Smith smiles "thank. I'm starvingg"

"A good sign."

"It's a broth, easier on the stomach" Brogan says

"Well, my thanks" he takes the broth, and looks at the childlinngs, "Now this reminds of a story.. oh but you wouldn't care about that..."

"About what?" Kassedy inquires

"Well, it's just, some folks use frogs in stew. I hope this isn't one?"

"No frog..." Broggan says

"Well good.. because I know a story about a frog that's just for childlins... and.. oh, maybe you're not the RIGHT childlings.." A sip of his stew

"But we are ..." She protests "You wait here, I'll gett other kids to join us" And when Connor , Lane, Jack come in, ... Smith finishes his broth, and tells his story

"Buford, a fairly handsome Southern Bullfrog, hops into a bank lobby one day, brief case neatly tucked under his right foreleg. Buford hops up to the first open teller window and sits down in front of a teller, Miss Mary Greene. He announces, “I need a loan.”"

Miss Greene, not wanting to look too uncool with this frog talking to her, pauses only briefly to reflect on this situation, then says, “Well, the Everglades Savings and Loan doesn’t usually give loans to amphibians.” Quickly opening the brief case, Buford produces construction permits and blueprints. Showing them to Miss Greene, he says, “But I need a loan. You see I have this construction project in mind. Down in the swamp, we need affordable housing for all my in-laws and out-laws. I have the permits. Freddy, an architect newt friend of mine has drawn up the plans. Everything is approved and in order. So you see, all I need is the financing.”

"
For Miss Greene, this is getting stranger by the moment. It isn’t enough that there is this talking frog only inches in front of her, but now he is talking about plans, permits and a newt architect. Just before she loses it completely, Miss Greene blurts out, “I can’t help you. You must see our loan officer, Miss Black. Wait here for a moment and I’ll get her.”
Miss Greene is gone for a while. After several minutes of animated conversation at the other side of the bank she returns with the loan officer. “Hello, I’m Miss Patricia Black, the Loan Officer here. How can I help you?” Well, Buford goes through his speach once again, tells her about the plans and permits, about the housing and his friend Freddy the newt architect. Thinking she could put an end to this foolishness quickly, Miss Black asks, “What do you have to put up for collateral for a loan? You must have something of value to mortgage against a loan like this.”
Buford digs into his brief case once more. “I have this!” he exclaims as he draws forth a crystal trinket on a silver chain. “I can’t give you a loan based on this THING,” Miss Black says, pointing at Buford’s treasure. Buford begs. He pleads. Finally, Buford demands to see the bank manager. Miss Greene, the teller, leaves for a moment to get the bank manager. Another animated conversation ensues at the other side of the bank. The manager comes over and asks “What’s the problem, Miss Black?” “Well, Mr. Brown…” and the Loan Manager explains that the frog wants to take out a loan, to construct housing in the swamp for his in-laws and out-laws and he has plans and permits, but all he has is this trinket as collateral. The manager bemused by this whole situation, takes the trinket in hand, examines it carefully, then hands it back to Buford saying, “It’s a knick knack, Patty Black. Give the frog a loan.”