*
The next day brought heavy rains and all Norman could do was sit at her bedroom window and try to wish the rain away. The day following brought even more rain and she found herself down in the kitchen helping the castle's cook, Harriet, bake some more cakes to help pass the time. When she awoke the next day, a ray of sunshine was poking through a crack in the heavy draperies. Norman jumped out of bed and dressed as quickly as she could and ran downstairs. Under her arm was the small package for Gertrude. Just as she was about to go out the door, she heard her father's voice behind her.
“My dear, I need to talk to you before you head down to the garden to see your new fr...new acquaintance. Please come into the hall with me so we can chat. I have some important news for you.”
Norman turned to face her father, sighed and followed him into the hall. He motioned her to sit in a chair by the fire that had been lit to take some of the rain's dampness out of the castle. “What is it you wish to tell me, Father?” Norman said letting her mind travel to the garden instead of listening to her father.
“Norman...Norman! Have you heard one word that I have spoken to you?” Her father said in an exasperated tone.
The princess awoke from her daydream. “I am so sorry, Father...really... Please, what were you saying?”
“I do not like talking to myself!” the king huffed. “This is serious! Next month you will be coming of age and it is time for you to marry. Your mother and I have made arrangements for a huge ball so you can meet the three prospective suitors we have chosen for you. The men come from neighboring kingdoms and good families.”
Norman's jaw dropped down to her kneecaps. She jumped up and said with as much disdain as she could possibly muster in her voice, “I will not marry someone who is chosen for me!” Norman found herself crying. “Oh, how could you and Mother do this to me?” She ran out of the hall and through the front doors. Blindly, she somehow found her way to the garden. Still teary-eyed, she caught sight of Gertrude, who was collecting nectar from the flowers.
Gertrude turned quickly to see who was approaching. His big, buggy eyes opened wide, his body rigid, ready to react at a moment’s notice. When he saw that it was Norman who was running into the garden, a big grin crossed his face. Noticing that she had been crying, he frowned and hopped over to where the princess had stopped on the stony path. “Why are you crying, Norman?” Gertrude's face was screwed up in an over-exaggerated way, trying to show concern for Norman's sadness.
“Oh my mother and father have arranged a ball for my upcoming birthday.” sniffled Norman.
“That does not sound so bad to me. I like birthday parties! As a matter of fact, I like any kind of party! There is always a lot of music, not to mention all of the delicious foods and drink! I especially love the birthday cake. Last year my mother made me a huge cake that was taller than me. She went all out and decorated it with different colored slug eggs that were coated in crystallized rose nectar. She made me feel even more special when she spent hours trying to spell ‘Happy Birthday, Gertrude’ with live blood worms.” Gertrude's face darkened. Then with a small chuckle, he added, “Those darn worms had a mind of their own and kept squirming off of the top of the cake. My mother got so angry and frustrated that she pulled all of the worms off the cake, ate them, and spelled ‘Happy Birthday, Gertrude’ with chocolate-covered boo-beetles. Everyone enjoyed the cake very much, especially my Uncle Roofus....” Gertrude laughed out loud. “He ate ten pieces of cake.”
At this point Norman had forgotten all about her troubles and was smiling at Gertrude's story. “What exactly are boo-bugs?” Norman asked with a quizzical look on her face.
Mischief danced in Gertrude's eyes, and a huge, toothless smile ran across his now comical features. “Boo-bugs are special bugs. When you go to blow out your candles, they jump up at your face and go...Boo!” With that, Gertrude jumped up as high as he could with his arms stretched over his head and startled Norman so much that she fell backwards onto the bench she had been standing in front of. Gertrude was rolling around on the ground laughing so hard that tears rolled down his face. He stopped for a second to look at Norman who was still in shock. In a blink of an eye, Norman also was laughing. They both laughed ‘til their sides ached, struggling to catch their breath.
Norman pretended to scold Gertrude for scaring her, however all that succeeded in doing was bringing on another fit of laughter for both of them, exhausting the two. Gertrude jumped up on the bench next to Norman and sat down very un-froglike with his short legs, and webbed feet splayed in front of him.
“Do you feel better now, my friend?” Gertrude asked, looking up at the princess’ beautiful face.
With an affirmative nod, Norman put a hand on each side of Gertrude's green face and planted a soft kiss on his forehead. “Thank you for making me feel better. And yes, you are my friend, too.”
“Why did you do that, Norman?" Gertrude was a darker green than usual, with a questioning look on his face.
“Because I like you, and I feel comfortable around you. You are my friend." Norman smiled down at the small, plump creature next to her and saw something that wasn't ugly about Gertrude. “Oh my!” Norman exclaimed. She started looking all around and found what she was looking for under the bench. She picked up the small package and handed it to Gertrude.
“What is this? It is not my birthday. Is it for me?” Gertrude stood up on the bench and bowed, holding the package as if he had just received one of the most valuable gifts in the world. His little hands trembled as he untied the ribbon securing the contents. Delicately, he unfolded the beautiful fabric hiding the gift. His eyes widened and welled up with tears. “It is such a magnificent gift! It...it .it is wonderful!” He unfolded the cape and threw it around his shoulders. Holding the cloak closed with one hand, he examined the diamond-encrusted brooch and deftly pinned both sides together. Then, when he found the hat, he excitedly put it on his head. Gertrude beamed as he asked, “Do I look like a Grand Troll now?”
“Indeed you do, my friend.” Norman replied, smiling broadly.
Gertrude hopped in front of Norman and, putting his hand on his new hat, lifted it off of his head and held it to his heart and bowed deeply. Looking up into Norman's face, he reached up and took Norman’s hands in his. “I want to thank you for the two beautiful gifts you have given me today.”
Norman looked puzzled. “But I only gave you one gift, Gertrude.”
“You are wrong, Norman, for you have given me a gift beyond measure.....your friendship.”
Norman blushed. “Thank you, I never quite looked at it that way before. You are a wise frog-troll and someday I see you as a leader of many. Oh, Gertrude, I have a request. I almost forgot. My mother, the queen, has asked to meet you. She wants to make sure that I am safe.”
Gertrude smiled up at his new friend. “I would feel more comfortable here in the garden. Do you think your mother would come here to meet me, instead of me coming to the castle?”
“She is the one who has requested to meet you. She will come when you would like her to.” Norman could see that Gertrude was nervous about such a meeting. “Would tomorrow night, when the evening primroses bloom, be a good time for you?”
Gertrude smiled a nervous smile and nodded ‘yes’.
“You will be fine, my friend, for my mother swore off eating frog-trolls ages ago.” Norman winked at Gertrude. “I should be going. I think I will have to start deciding what to wear to this ball my parents have planned for me. ‘Til tomorrow…” Norman turned and started walking up the path, looking back to wave goodbye.
Gertrude smiled, waved his hat, turned and hopped down the path in the opposite direction.