28. Cracking Mrs Croaker

Chapter 28: Cracking Mrs. Croaker

When I first met Sprig a month and a half ago, he claimed that I was the first person who really "got him". I assumed at the time that meant that he was kind of a town outcast, y'know, like me, but as time has marched on I've come to realize that for the most part, that just isn't true. People might not "get" Sprig, but they do like him. Like, today, as he, Polly and I were taking a stroll while HP was at the market, it seemed like everyone had a smile and a kind word for my little pink bestie, including some I've never seen before or since. Like, there's suddenly an Italian restaurant in Wartwood that I never noticed. Which makes no sense. Does Amphibia even have an Italy? Ugh, I'm overthinking things again! That's supposed to be Marcy's job.

Anyway, it seems like there's one exception to the "everybody loves Raym- er, Sprig" rule: Mrs. Croaker. Maybe. It seemed like she ignored Sprig when he said hi to her, but responded whien Polly and I said the same. Which… I dunno, is that really a big deal? Maybe she just didn't hear Sprig? She is getting up there. Maybe her hearing's starting to go?

If it was up to me, I wouldn't sweat it. It's not something that's worth obsessing about. And I'm not just talking about my Wartwood experiences, but a whole lifetime of trying to get people to like me, and finding out that sometimes there's nothing you can do.

Ahh… Jamie Krieger, prettiest and most popular girl in the first grade. I spent so much time trying to get her attention. So many pudding cups. Wasted. And she was just the first. In the end… you just can't force people to like you.

But Sprig? Sprig became absolutely obsessed with finding out what Mrs. Croaker thinks of him, to the point of making a complete nuisance of himself. He started following Mrs. Croaker around and trying to carry her bags when it was clear she didn't need or want the help. If she didn't dislike him before, she probably did now. It was physically painful to watch. The cringe factor was the equivalent of watching ten school principals trying to rap.

I tried to advise Sprig to take the advice of a certain ice queen and let it go (come to think of it, I don't think that's what the song is about, but it's still good advice), but Sprig absolutely effuses to listen to reason. Now he's run off on some kind of "fact-finding mission". I'd go with him, but I just do not have the energy to enable him today.

Huh. So this is what it's like to be the voice of reason. Feels weird. I'm not sure how I feel about it.

I didn't see Sprig for a couple of hours after that. Which is fine. I had better things to do with that time, like racking up a new high score on Maracca Monkey. Sprig eventually did show up, saying that he couldn't find any useful information. Which is fine by me. Maybe he'll finally drop this whole thing and move on. I have other better things to do anyway. HP and I are going to be making ravioli for dinner, and I've got a few really good sauce ideas.

He's not dropping it! Jeez, this is getting just plain creepy at this point. Now he's breaking into Croaker's house to try to find something, anything to ingratiate himself with her. When Polly and I went to grab him and drag him back to the house and maybe stage some kind of intervention, we found the dude playing with her dentures and going through boxes of old photos. This had officially gone too far.

The plan now was to drag him back by whatever means necessary, but when we tried to wrestle the box back, it fell open and revealed a bunch of old photos from when Croaker was young and hot. Wait… did I just call a frog hot? I think I've officially been here way too long.

Anyway, there was this one photo of some guy named Jonah. Sprig immediately assumed this guy was her one true love and ran off to find him. It's become clear by now that Sprig is beyond reason at this point. All I can do is pull his legs out of the frying pan when things inevitably go belly-up.

Well, you won't believe how this all ended! Turns out this Jonah guy was actually

"Huh, that's weird," remarked Sasha. "Looks like someone ripped the next page out. Why would they do that?"

Her train of thought was derailed when there was a knock at the door. Things had been quiet for a couple of days, and there were no reports of any new enemy troop movements near Wartwood, so she was a bit less wary answering it.

Speak of the devil…

"Afternoon, dearie," Mrs. Croaker said, proffering a warm pot. "Cooked up a fresh batch of my famous Croaker Stew this mornin'. I made a little extra for you and Grimesey. Our town defenders gotta keep their strength up, you know."

"Uh… thanks," Sasha replied, taking the offered pot, trying her hardest to hide her distaste. Unlike Anne, she'd never really developed a taste for Frog Valley cuisine. All those weird native vegetables and lumps of… well, she didn't want to know what. Back at the tower, she'd had her own private chef who was able to prepare things she actually wanted to eat. But the Tower was months in the past by now. She'd learned to eat whatever became available. Liking it… that was a different story. But none of that was Mrs. Croaker's fault, was it. She'd been nothing but welcoming since she and Grime had fled Newtopia for Wartwood. For more welcoming than the two had deserved, considering Toad Tower's past treatment of the town and the citizens. "For everything."

"Oh, no trouble t'all, Sasha," the old frog-woman answered. "Although I will be taking a little trip to Hoppingham in a couple of days, and-"

Sasha smiled. "I'll take care of Archie for you."

"Why, Olm bless you, dear," she answered.

"Y'know, it's funny," Sasha continued. "I was just reading Anne's diary again, and by sheer coincidence it was an entry about you."

"Well, is that so. Small world isn't it."

"Yeah. Funny thing… it looks like the entire last page of the entry was torn out."

"Well, how about that," remarked Croaker neutrally.

"I know, right? It looks like all the other pages are there, so I don't know why anyone would tear that particular page out."

"Hmmm," the old woman replied, eyes narrowing, "well, if I had to guess…maybe that page contained some sensitive information. And… this is all just speculation, mind… maybe she reconsidered writing it down, and decided it was a better idea to destroy it, on the off-chance that it could get out. I assume, anyway. Because I'm fairly sure Anne knew what was good for her." The emphasis on the last sentence was not unnoticed.

"…yeah, so thanks for the stew!" Sasha quickly repeated.

"Enjoy it in good health, dearie!" Croaker replied, her jovial tone back, but the unspoken threat still lingering.

Remind me never to cross that woman.

A.N.: Yeah, so, we've established that everyone in town's been reading the diary. So, what happens when we get to a chapter where Anne learns information that under no circumstances should ever be revealed? Well, we get this! Did Anne tear the page out herself, or did Croaker do some clever editing herself to make sure she'd never have to go through on her threat? We may never know.

Jose: Yep

MarMarFaAnne: The whole timeline is kinda weird for season 1. In "A Trip to the Archives", the mountain pass is said to be only one week away from clearing up, but four episodes later it's going to be "a few more weeks". I try not to think about it. And yes, I am fully in "shut up and take my money" mode for that journal.

Next: A Night at the Inn