The Frog Princess - Another Take

Sipho Monareng liked fishing. It was a quiet, relaxing sport that put him in tune with nature even while he thought through some life or work-related problems.

On this Sunday morning, Sipho did not have big problems to worry about. He had just finished working on a big software programming job. The customer was happy with a job well-done. He had lots of money in the bank. The only minor problem was his mother, who nagged him every chance she got, saying he should marry.

“It’s time you found a nice girl who’ll love you and give me grandchildren,” she said. “You’re not getting any younger, you know.”

But Sipho was not in a hurry to marry. He liked his life just the way it was. So he sat by the riverbank, casting his lines to catch some fish. His mind drifted a bit.
“Excuse me sir, but I need your help,” a deep croaky voice said.
“What?” Sipho cried.
He looked around, but he did not see anyone nearby. In fact, there was no other person near the riverbank.

“I’m down here,” the croaky voice said. “I’m in the water, right in front of you.”
Fascinated, Sipho looked down, and saw a big frog standing just outside the water, looking at him.

“Please sir, help me!”
“Wow! What are you?” Sipho asked.

The frog explained that her name was Helki. She was actually a princess from a well-known African tribe. Her sister, who was power-hungry and evil, cast a spell on her.

“I was supposed to inherit our kingdom after my parents’ death, but my sister changed me into a frog so she could become Queen. According to the spell, I can only go back to being a person if a handsome man like you kissed me on the lips,” Princess Helki explained.

Sipho had heard of the princess and her disappearance. It was all over the newspapers, radio and TV for weeks. At first authorities said it was a kidnapping, but when there was no ransom demand and time passed, it was thought she had been killed. Her body was never found.

“You’re really her?” Sipho asked, awed.
"Yes I am,” the frog said. “Kiss me and you’ll see.”
"Wow. Cool!"

Sipho bent down and picked Princess Helki up. But instead of kissing her like she asked, he put her in his bait box, packed up his fishing gear and walked back to his car. After stowing his fishing gear in the boot, he took the bait box into the car with him.

Princess Helki was beating weakly on the lid, begging him to open the lid.
“Sorry I had to stuff you in there, but I needed to pack up quickly and I couldn’t think of a good place to put you while I do that. ” Sipho apologized. "I'll let you out as soon as we get home I promise."

After packing his fishing gear in the garage, Sipho took the bait box and an old bird cage and took them to his home office. Then he took Princess Helki out of the baitbox.

“You idiot! How dare you lock me in a box with soft, fleshy dead things!” she yelled.
Helki took several deep breaths to try to calm down. It wouldn’t do to antagonize the person on whom your whole existence depends on, she thought.

“Sorry, but it was very upsetting to be trapped in that airless box with that wiggly stuff. I’m a human being, a princess, not a frog and I really hate the smell of bait,” she said.
“Sorry,” Sipho mumbled.
“As I was saying, I really need you to kiss me on the lips so I can go back to being a woman. If you did, I would be so grateful that I would marry you and rule my people by your side. Being my husband will bring you a lot of power and riches. Hey, hey, what are you doing?” Princess Helki said.

As Helki was speaking, Sipho had put her in a bird cage and locked the door.
“I’m really sorry Princess but I can’t kiss you. As I told my mother, I don’t really need a wife,” Sipho said. “ I don't need your money. I make lots of money doing programming jobs. And I’m just a geeky person who’s happiest when I am alone working on my software development programmes, I wouldn't know what to do with all that power you're talking about. But even if I did want those things, I still wouldn’t help you.”

‘And why would you not help me?” Princess Helki shrieked.

“Because I know more about your kingdom than you think,” Sipho said. “I just finished a programming job for your sister, and from what I hear, she was the one who was supposed to inherit. But you didn’t like it and tried to overthrow her. Then suddenly you disappeared. No one knew where you went, and she put in a good show, pressuring the police to find you. Neat way to get rid of traitors, don't you think?”
“No I don't! And if you knew all this, why did you take me out of the river?”

Sipho explained that he admired Princess Helki's sister and the work she was doing to help her people. "So I thought I'd do her a favour and put you where you’ll never have a chance to ask another man for a kiss. Anyway, having a talking frog to keep me company while I pull all-nighters will be real cool!” Sipho said.
'Aaaaaaaaaah!" Princess Helki screamed. But there was no one to hear; just Sipho, who laughed as he sat down at his desk, logging onto his laptop.