Toad and Dragonfly

Toad was busily occupied snatching carpenter ants from a rotting piece of spruce.

He amazed himself time and time again with his own accuracy and speed.

Just as his mind began to be carried off by the thoughts of his many great accomplishments,

Dragonfly landed promptly on his head.

Her eyes looked him up-side-down and she smiled “Hello.”

He gagged on a leg or antenna and started to belch “What the…”

when his eyes were drawn to her wings,
barely visible,
but catching all of the colors of the rainbow
in the early evening light.

He tried, but just could not find the words to express just how tasty she seemed to him.

Carpenter ants were sweet little snacks; she, on the other hand, was an entire meal -- and then some!

But, there was something about her.

She was beautiful

and did not look away as those who are beautiful often do.

She wasn’t even afraid that he might eat her. She didn’t seem to have a care in the world. And she wanted to be his friend.

“What?” he blurped out when she asked.

“Would you like to be my friend?” she repeated, still smiling, her wide dark eyes reflecting his puzzled expression back to him.

“Well, I, er, sure, OK, fine then” he squeaked and hastily bounced away.

She was still attached to his head when she asked, “Where are we going, friend?”

“Anywhere we want to?” he asked back.

“Sure, OK, fine then.” she smiled.