Toad reached over and squeezed Frog’s hand. “I hope so too,” said Toad.

September 18, 2020 4:37 PM

Frog and Toad tentatively go outside after months in self-quarantine by Jennie Ergedie in McSweeney's.

The Restaurant

Toad and Frog stood outside a French bistro.

Inside, a sparrow, two dragonflies, and a field mouse were having dinner together.

They looked like they were having a good time.

“Time to go in,” said Frog.

Toad and Frog did not move.

“Here we go,” said Toad. “Dinner time.”

Toad and Frog still did not move.

“Toad,” said Frog, “I do not feel it is safe yet.”

“I was about to say the same thing,” said Toad.

They were being cautious.

It was a good warm feeling.

Frog and Toad previously: Frog and Toad are self-quarantined friends (thread). An amphibious celebration of same-sex love. Frog and Toad are co-founders.

posted by medusa (17 comments total)

Oh god this is awesome.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 6:32 PM on September 18, 2020 [2 favorites]

I concur. This is awesome.
posted by badbobbycase at 7:24 PM on September 18, 2020

A while ago, when I was feeling sad, I got some Frog and Toad books out of the library and they made me feel a bit better, even if I finished them in five minutes. I recommend.
posted by Going To Maine at 7:45 PM on September 18, 2020 [3 favorites]

Thanks for this post. I somehow had never heard of these stories! But I just read the article and was inspired to order the books online.

(And after I read them, they’ll go into the Darkstarchive of physical media to provide folks uplifting literature during the zombie apocalypse.)
posted by darkstar at 7:58 PM on September 18, 2020 [2 favorites]

darkstar - and anyone else who's not as familiar with Frog and Toad as they might like to be: please see this previously (linked above as thread) from July.

Frog and Toad are the best!
posted by kristi at 8:31 PM on September 18, 2020 [1 favorite]

I am still thankful that frog and toad books were part of my first grade reading curriculum, that they have always been around for me :)
posted by Tandem Affinity at 8:39 PM on September 18, 2020 [2 favorites]

Frog and Toad Are Wonderful
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 9:11 PM on September 18, 2020 [1 favorite]

I legit laughed out loud at

“I feel round,” sighed Frog.
posted by holborne at 10:05 PM on September 18, 2020 [1 favorite]

My older sister was frog, and I was, and always will be, toad.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:31 AM on September 19, 2020 [3 favorites]

I read a lot of books to my kids and I don't think there was anything I enjoyed reading more than Frog and Toad.

None if these stories are quite weird enough or succinct enough to be a Frog and Toad story.
posted by straight at 8:54 AM on September 19, 2020

None if these stories are quite weird enough or succinct enough to be a Frog and Toad story.

I love Frog and Toad too, but the first story definitely hit the right note for me.

“I have so much work to do,” sighed Toad.
He set his Zoom background to a picture of his room when it was tidy.
“There,” said Toad. “Now I am professional.”
posted by trig at 9:17 AM on September 19, 2020 [2 favorites]

The thing is I've heard that bit done on Twitter. There are no bits in the Frog and Toad books that I've heard before.
posted by straight at 10:40 AM on September 19, 2020 [1 favorite]

But I'm sorry, I don't meant that to poop on these McSweeny's bits which are fun and sweet. I just mean the Frog and Toad books are even better and if you like this you might love them.
posted by straight at 10:42 AM on September 19, 2020

I haven't read a Frog and Toad story in many years, but I for one, thought these were bang on.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 2:45 PM on September 19, 2020

“Toad,” said Frog, “do you think it is still April?”

“No,” said Toad, “I know it is August. But my brain feels stuck in April.”

“Mine too,” said Frog.

Frog ripped off the April page.

“Toad,” said Frog, “I do not understand time anymore.”

“Time means nothing now,” said Toad. “It is just the thing that happens between snacks.”

We are all Toad now.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:29 PM on September 19, 2020 [5 favorites]

These Ergedie stories are sweet and fun. The original Frog and Toad stories are true Literature. The one about Frog's Dream rivals anything in Kafka. Apparently, the folks at the U. of Washington consider it to be worthy, too, of philosophical attention.
posted by bertran at 2:15 AM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]

Woo-hoo! I just got my hardback compilation of Frog and Toad stories!!
posted by darkstar at 11:10 PM on October 4, 2020