Once upon a time and not so long ago, I met a very special frog. Deep dark green and smooth to touch, this frog had great big, coal black eyes, and a tiny little mouth that occasionally went "Gribet, Gribet" when he was not doing wondrous things.

Now this frog did not have an ordinary name like you or me. Nobody called him Daddy, Bobby, or Billy, Horace or Harry, Arthur or Arnold, or even Rumpelstiltskin.

Only because I love you and know that you will never tell an adult, dare I speak as now I do and tell this tale to you. Never before have I ever said a word about this frog to anyone, even your mother.

ARCHIBALD J. X. McWONDROUS McREADY was his name. Remember that name well, if you happen to be playing one day, and all the adults around are out of sight, for you might just run into this wonderful fellow. Archibald J. X. McWondrous McReady can do magical things for every big little boy and girl and is well worth knowing.

Do you remember? I had better repeat it.

Archibald J. X. McWondrous McReady.

Say it after me three times, and then forever you will know.

Archibald J, X, McWondrous McReady.

Archibald J, X, McWondrous McReady.

Archibald J, X, McWondrous McReady.

Archibald (I sometimes call him that for short when I think he isn't listening) appeared one day in a puff of smoke, non-polluting smoke, I hope, right out of the blue in 3192 B. C., and that makes him older than me or you. He speaks every language ever known to man or beast and even two teenagers talking make sense to him. Grown he has not for over five thousand years. No bigger than a dime, Archibald J. X. McWondrous McReady is hard to find, but, if you make the effort and take the time, he can sometimes be seen. I certainly hope you will try, as you will soon see, Archibald J. X. McWondrous McReady is quite a guy.

Believe in my story you may, or being children of today you may not, but hear me through. I ask you to believe because I know it's true. I once met Archibald J. X. McWondrous McReady. It was a long time ago when I was little like you. Never had I heard of Archibald J. X. McWondrous McReady. Not even a rumor, a story in a book, a movie, or a TV show had given me a clue as to who, or what Archibald J. X. McWondrous McReady might be. Of leprechauns, goblins, demons, and spooks, I knew. Soldiers, sailors, elephants, and tigers too, but of a frog named Archibald J. X. McWondrous McReady, I had never heard.

At any rate, going back in time, my memories almost seem like a dream. My visions are fuzzy, and things do not exactly make sense, but here is the story as it happened to Archibald J. X. McWondrous McReady and me.