by Henry, ©2025
(Jul. 11, 2025) — “More than I can Say” (3:35)
As the lady frog “Can Can Dancers” (1:09) conclude their dance routine, the curtain rises to a packed house as “Grandmother’s Minuet” (4:18) is heard to a stage set as a section of an interstate highway. Large cardboard semi trucks pass towing trailers painted with gaudy signs reading, “Illegal Capacity 300” and “Underage Kid Capacity 1350.” On either side of the highway stand groups of frogs, some with suitcases, but most of military age with nothing except an attitude.
“I say we wait until dark when they can’t see us.”
“But they have lights at night so they’ll see us anyway.”
“It certainly is a dilemma. If we try and cross now, we may not make it, but if we wait we still may not make it.”
“And if we weren’t here in the first place, there’d be no highway to cross in the first place; there would be no ‘first place’ in the first place.”
“That is true.”
“It’s all true.”
“What part?”
“The whole part. Why go somewhere else if where you go to you want to be just like you left?”
“That is so true. Why go to a barrio in Los Angeles or Phoenix if you want to make it just like home sweet home?”
“That is true.”
“It’s all true, including ‘anchor babies.’”
“I’m confused.”
“Welcome to the USA. My advice, which I will take myself, is to turn around and simply go home. No more ‘Laken Rileys.’ We must be legal for, if nothing else, peace of mind.”
“So no crossing the highway?’”
“And taking the chance of getting flattened or arrested? No, I’m going home. See you there.”
“Is it really that simple, just ‘go home?’”
One frog turns and walks off, stage left, as the frequency of the trucks diminishes and the curtain closes to the song of “I’m Going to be (500 Miles)” (3:38).
FINI