Banks Dynasty – Frog Scenario Side Story (Part 2)

Part 2 – Into the Froggyverse

Maia approaches the following day with two missions in mind; traveling to collect more frogs and chasing some warmer weather. But first, she checks on her chickens, scatters some feed, and collects the newly hatched eggs. Then it’s off to her first stop – Oasis Springs.

Maia arrives in sunny Oasis Springs but is surprised to find it not much warmer than Brindleton Bay. But what bothers her about being here is that it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump away from her hometown – San Sequoia. She’s so close to home that she’s finding it hard to resist the pull of it. It’s like it’s calling her name. She could visit her father, reassure him that she’s doing just fine, then return to her small home to complete her mission. But she knows that all of that is just a fantasy. Her father’s influence on her is so strong that his saying the right thing would almost guarantee that she’d be moving back in and sleeping in her old bedroom by the end of the day.

Maia turns away from those thoughts and seeks the nearest water pump, hoping to find a new frog species. She succeeds.

But escaping from her father isn’t that easy. Her cell phone is ringing, she pulls it out, and sure enough, it’s Clyde. She rejects the call, which takes it directly to her voicemail. She gives him enough time to leave a message, then listens to it immediately.

Clyde’s Voice Message: Hey, Maia girl! It’s your father checking in on you again. I just wanted to know if you’ve been eating enough. Just tell me that, and I’ll leave you alone – promise. And don’t be too shy to ask if you need anything. Let me know – love you!

She knows her father’s love for her is strong. That makes her smile; she wishes he trusted her enough to know she’s doing well. She doesn’t respond to his call. Instead, she answers out loud, as if he could hear her.

Maia: Yes, father. I made chicken sliders for dinner. You would have liked them. Love you too!

Maybe the Universe will deliver her message to him.

Improving her fishing skill is another part of her mission today. Maybe she can catch her dinner tonight and save a few dollars on her grocery bill. She pulls out her pole to see what happens. It takes a while, but she manages to catch a Bass.

A few hours have passed. It’s time for Maia to travel to her second destination before it gets too late. But just as she’s leaving Oasis Springs, she can feel her mood begin to shift. Maybe visiting a new place will improve it.

Maia arrives in Willow Creek. Once again, the air is chilly – not even close to the warmth of Spring she’s been seeking. She’s not the only one waiting for warmer days. Her little frog buddies are much tougher to find when hiding to escape the cold.

Maia has better luck searching a log. This find makes only three frogs for the day. She was hoping for a lot more, but three is better than none. She has better luck with fishing. She catches a trout and a tuna, which improves her fishing skills.

Maia’s mood is again on the downside when she arrives home. And it has nothing to do with the weather or lack of frogs found.

Like most teens going through puberty, Maia started having erratic mood swings, but unlike the average teen, her mood shifts never disappeared. In fact, over time, they seemed to get worse until her doctor decided that the only way to regulate it would be to medicate her. It worked, but the meds left Maia in constant apathy. When Maia left her father’s house, she stopped taking the meds. But now she’s continually seeking natural ways to tame her erratic episodes, which isn’t easy.

Maia does her best to ignore it. She has work to do. She purchased two more tables on the way home from Willow Creek. She sets them up in her side yard and checks her progress with breeding a new frog. Her attempt is successful, but today her success doesn’t give her much joy.

Her notes are complete, and it’s time for some self-care. Maia changes into some warm workout clothes and pulls out her yoga mat. During moments like this, mind-centering meditation and focus help a lot. It seems to be the only thing that gets her through emotionally challenging times.  And as usual, it calms her, but it’s too cold to stay outside for long.

Maia goes into the house and cranks up the heat. She’ll worry about the consequences of an increased power bill later.

Maia sits at her computer to check her emails. She’s been seeking new penpals over the internet, and today she’s happy to see that she has a new one from far-a-way Riverview, one of the many places she’d love to visit. She sends a quick reply back.

It’s finally day’s end. She spends some time doing laundry and reflecting on her day. Despite the few frogs found, Maia has still checked off more goals. She can see progress, and that’s enough to warrant an impromptu solo dance party. Maia cranks up the soul music, allowing it to flow through her house and trickle into the night air. She spends the time before bed moving to the beat.

(Frog Scenario Chapter Summaries)

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