"A Modern Faerie Tale - The Frog Prince" by Natalie Paquette

     Although Charlotte was a princess, and traditionally beautiful just like in the faerie tales, things just weren't the same in this day and age. Her golden locks were cut into a fashionable bob, and the only "diamonds" she wore were actually coats of glitter nail polish on her fingers and toes. Her castle was done in a more modern style, and there were no enchanted forests left anywhere in the area. However, in her cultivated gardens, there was a shallow pool of water, and the rocks around its edges were comfortable for sitting. So it was that Charlotte came to sit beside this little pool one day after getting into an argument with her mother, the queen, about her extensive phone bill.

      "Oh, bother!" Princess Charlotte exclaimed as her phone vibrated in her pocket. It took great effort to rummage it out because her designer jeans were cut skin-tight. Grunting in a very un-princess-like manner, she yanked her little flip-phone free and watched in horror as it went flying and landed with a big "sploosh!" in the pool at her feet. "Oh, no!" she cried, pressing her manicured hands against the stones on the water's edge.

      "May I be of assistance, my lady?" a voice called from the rose bushes. Confused, and a little alarmed that someone had gotten past the security gate, Charlotte looked around but couldn't find anyone to place the voice to.

      "... who's there?" she ventured, and fixed her hair quickly. Whoever it was had a handsome voice, and the Princess wanted to impress him. There came the slight rustling of leaves, and then the voice said again,

      "Please, don't be alarmed." A large green frog jumped out from the roses, and Charlotte blinked in bewilderment.

      "... how can you talk?" she finally stammered, straightening up and putting a hand on her hip. The frog managed a sort of bow, which was awkward with flippers.

      "I am truly a Prince, my lady - but an evil cyber witch I met on a dating website turned me into a frog when I refused to go out with her. It is only the kiss of a Princess that can return me to my natural form." Charlotte stared, gaping at him. She had, of course, heard the old tales and knew that all Frog Princes were remarkably dashing once returned to their human form. Biting her lip and trying not to giggle, she smiled and said,

      "Well, I'm a Princess. Maybe I could help...?" The frog's mouth widened into a strange sort of smile, and puffing up his chest he said,

      "But first, I must help you, my lady! I shall retrieve what you've dropped into the pool!" Before Charlotte could stop him, the frog leapt into the water, which had become electrified with the charge from her phone. Covering her mouth in horror, the Princess gasped as the frog came floating up to the service, unconscious and twitching. Mortified, and afraid to touch him for fear of getting shocked, she ran back to her castle and never returned to the pool. ... who knew how scrambled his brain would be after such a shock? Charlotte didn't want to rescue a Prince who might drool.

Moral of the story: Think before jumping in headfirst. Or: Be careful of electrical equipment around water.