“What’s a dreaming?” The old man asked curiously.2
“Well, I guess you could say it is what you think when you’re sleeping.” Tommy tried to explain.3
“I don’t know for sure but I think I might have had a dreaming.” The old man said seriously.4
“It’s called a dream. I think I’m having one now.” Tommy said soberly.5
“Would that me a dream?” The old man asked awkwardly.6
“Yes, that is what you are. You are a part of my dream.” Tommy stated firmly.7
“That cannot be true. I’ve lived in these woods almost all of my life. I am not a dream.” The old man lectured.8
“But, if I ‘m not dreaming, where am I?” Tommy asked meekly.9
“You are in my home in the forest. That is where.” The old man stated.10
“I know that. I was too scared to go back into the caves so I decided to look for help. I found a path that lead to an extremely strange golden lake. I followed another path into the forest. I finally ended up here.” Tommy told the old man. “I’m sorry I came into your home even though you weren’t here. I was very tired and I really wanted to get out of the rain.” Tommy apologized sincerely. “What I mean, is how did I get here, in this extremely strange world?” Tommy asked.
11“It is Ok that you came in to get out of the rain,” the old man said kindly, “I do not know how you got here other than through the cave.” The old man said. “Why would you say this is an extremely strange world strange?” The old man asked raising an eyebrow.12
“Because, this world Is so extremely strange.” Tommy said softly to himself.13
“It’s not strange to me.” The old man said rather gruffly.14
“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, Mr. ...umm...uh Mr. ...” Tommy stuttered.15
“Frogg.” The old stated simply.16
“You said it wasn’t!” Tommy exclaimed, looking at the old man in disbelief.17
“I’ve changed my mind.” The old man stated simply. “What do you mean by wrong color?” He asked to change the subject.18
“Things are extremely strange colors. The sun is green. The sky is yellowish-green. The clouds are purple. There are pink stars shining in the daytime. The trees are blue with strange red leaves. The grass is an odd blue. Before I entered the forest I saw that extremely strange golden lake. It had orange fish swimming in it.” Tommy explained in great detail. “The only halfway normal looking thing in this world is the mountain. Everything else is extremely strange looking.” He added tearfully.19
“First of all, things have always been the colors they are. There is not anything strange about that.” Mr. Frogg said as he slowly walked into his strange kitchen.20
“But,” Tommy tried to interrupt.21
“As for the golden lake, it is simply wonderful tasting.” Mr. Frogg stated.22
“I know. I was drinking from it when one of those strange orange fish almost got my nose.” Tommy said honestly.23
“The fish are not strange. They are delicious. I’m having one for supper tonight.” Mr. Frogg said.24
“May I have some?” Tommy asked quietly.25
“Of course you may have some.” Mr. Frogg said with a smile.26
“Thank you.” Tommy said happily. “I’m very hungry.” He added as he watched Mr. Frogg place a large orange fish onto a flat stone and then place the stone into an extremely strange stone oven. The oven had an extremely strange blue glow coming from it. While he sat and watched Mr. Frogg busy himself in his extremely strange kitchen cooking some extremely strange foods Tommy scratched and petted the strange dog named Scarf. 27
“What is a mountain?” Mr. Frogg asked.28
“This particular mountain is like an extremely large rock that has dirt covering part of the bottom of it. Oh and it has snow on top of it.” Tommy explained.29
“What is snow?” Mr. Frogg asked.30
“It’s kind of hard to explain.” Tommy said slowly. “How long until the fish will be done?” He asked, trying to avoid the subject of snow.31
“It’s done now.” Mr. Frogg said as he used two flat sticks to remove it from the extremely strange stone oven. “Mmm, fantastic!” He exclaimed after tasting a bite of the fish.32
“Exactly what is snow?” Mr. Frogg asked again as he divided the food onto three wooden plates.33
“Snow is white like your hair,” Tommy began as Mr. Frogg handed him one of the wooden plates. “It is very cold.” Tommy explained after eating a couple of bites of fish.34
Mr. Frogg placed a wooden plate of food on the floor for Scarf and then picked up the wooden box which had held the fish they were eating. After removing the lid he extended the box and pointed inside.35
“Is this snow?” Mr. Frogg asked.36
“Yes, that’s snow.” Tommy answered around a mouthful of fish.37
“I am quite certain I know where this mountain is if it is the one near the golden lake and it’s covered with this stuff which you call snow.” Mr. Frogg said happily as he sat the box back on the floor.38
“You do!” Tommy blurted out. “Will you help me find my way back home?” Tommy asked excitedly.39
“Yes, first thing in the morning.” Mr. Frogg replied thoughtfully after swallowing a bite of food.40
“I need to go now.” Tommy pleaded.41
“We cannot travel in the forest at night. We would get lost.” Mr. Frogg explained with great concern.42
“But, my parents are bound to be worried by now.” Tommy begged. “Besides I’m beginning to miss them a lot.” He added sadly.43
“I’m sorry. We could get lost as easily in the woods as you did in the caves.” Mr. Frogg explained solemnly.44
“Hey, wait a minute. It’s still day time.” Tommy said with tense suspicion.45
“What in the world makes you think that?” Mr. Frogg asked with a laugh.46
“The sun was straight above my head when I found your home. That wasn’t long ago.” Tommy stated boldly.47
“Anybody knows that means it’s about to get dark.” Mr. Frogg said evenly.48
“In my world that means the day is only half over.” Tommy stated around another bite of food.49
“That’s strange.” Mr. Frogg said as he gently tugged on his white beard.50
“No it’s not.” Tommy mumbled as he pushed the food around on his plate.51
“Well, I’m sorry but it’s night time here.” Mr. Frogg said as he stood and headed to the door. He then opened the door to prove it. “We need to get to sleep because we have a long trip ahead of us.” Mr. Frogg stated honestly.52
“How early can we start?” Tommy asked quietly as he handed his plate to Mr. Frogg who then placed it on the floor for Scarf so he could eat the scraps.53
“I always start my day as first light. That won’t be long now.” Mr. Frogg answered matter-of-factly.54
“But...Never mind, I won’t ask.” Tommy said sleepily.55
“You may sleep on my couch. I’ll let Scarf sleep on my bed with me.” Mr. Frogg said as he handed Tommy an extremely strange blanket and a strange looking pillow.56
“Thank you. I’m ready to go to sleep.” Tommy said as he laid his head on the pillow.57
“Ready to sleep indeed,” Mr. Frogg chuckled to himself as Tommy promptly fell asleep.” I guess a long day...especially in a strange world, can wear you out.” Mr. Frogg said softly.58
While Mr. Frogg finished eating his dinner he couldn’t help but wonder about the strange things this creature called Tommy had mentioned earlier. “I can’t imagine things being colored any differently than the way they are.” He muttered to himself as he lay down in bed. “I wonder what a tickle really is.” He mused as he covered himself up. “Then there’s dreaming.” Mr. Frogg whispered to himself. He thought so hard on the subject of dreaming as he dozed off to sleep...he did just that.
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