Change
Walt Staples



Ruby Begonia

was off to a rocky start that morning. She flew down the hill toward the subway knowing the universe was about to attack in its most malevolent manner. The frog that spoke in bird-like tones melted her resolve not to interact with things outside her skin for the foreseeable future.

The frog twittered, “Change for a dollar?”

She stopped, considered, and produced a dollar bill. She handed it to the frog (it was that kind of frog). The frog’s shape began to flow. In a twinkling, it assumed that of a lizard of approximately the same mass.

Ruby frowned at the frog/lizard. “That’s what I get for a dollar?”

The lizard/frog piped in its birdie voice, “Well, yeah. A mammal would’ve cost at least five.”

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