frogs

Frogs

    Once upon a time, a frog civilization grew up in a large pot of water. As luck would have it, a human being discovered this bonanza and discreetly moved it over a handy flame ...

    "Herman," said Violet, "how hard do you think it would be to jump out of the Big Pot?"
    "Piece-a-cake," ribbeted Herman. "Piece-a-cake. Why do you ask?"
    "Oh, nothing," said Violet. "I was just thinking maybe it was time to move."
    "Move?" gaped Herman in surprise. "What on earth for?"
    "It's just that it seems to be getting a might warm in here," replied Violet.
    "I don't feel anything," said Herman. "Anyway, where would we go?"
    "Somewhere where there weren't bubbles forming on the bottom of the pot," said Violet. "Did I mention that bubbles were forming on the bottom of the pot?"
    "Pay no attention to the bubbles!" blared a voice from the far pot side.
    "There, see?" said Herman. "President Virgil says not to pay any attention to the bubbles."
    "But, um, the bubbles mean the water in the Big Pot is starting to boil," Violet pointed out.
    "No, no! They don't mean that!" blared Virgil again. "That's what the troublemakers say, but my guys have proved there's nothing to it."
    "Oh, they have?" asked Violet. "And what were their findings?"
    "That there's nothing to it," repeated Virgil. "Oh, and remember, everybody! Me and the other Fat Frogs own this place! Don't forget to give us everything you have for the privilege of living here! And if anyone has any questions, you can just keep your fat yap shut!"
    "See?" said Herman. "Everything's fine. Virgil and the Fat Frogs say so."
    "Goody," said Violet. "You know, Herman, this water is getting decidedly hotter."
    "Oh, maybe," said Herman, "but there's nothing we can do about it."
    "Sure, there is," Violet retorted. "We can hop the heck out of here!"
    "Nah, that would be too hard," said Herman. "Anyway, the Fat Frogs say not to worry."
    "Herman," said Violet with a slight increase of urgency, "do you still think it would be easy to jump out of here?"
    "Well, sure," said Herman, "but why bother?"
    "Why bother? Herman, do you feel the waves?"
    "Oh, yeah. That's kind of soothing."
    "It is not soothing!" snapped Violet. "It's boiling! If we don't split now, we're human food!"
    "No, it's too hard," whined Herman. "I just want to do what I've always done."
    "Herman," pleaded Violet, "it's not too late! We can still escape!"
    "Yeah, we could," said Herman. "But it's too much trouble."

We will not dwell on the sumptuousness of that evening's banquet of frog legs. Urban legend - or maybe it's rural legend - has it that a frog placed in boiling water will jump out immediately. If, however, the water is tepid to begin with, and is gradually brought to a boil, the frog will not notice it and will boil to death without a fight. Actually, the frog would know when to act when its world was collapsing around it.