A faded grey sparrow's bright tune is abruptly interrupted by a strange sight. A young girl cradles a frog in her palm. Fear sparkles and falls from her eyes. "Ought I to break your spell?" she asks the frog. "I could never bear to have you settle for me." "Never would I settle for you! Nay, rather I yearn to settle with you!" "But the first kiss may be unpleasant . . ." The bird wonders over all this; at a pretty girl holding an ugly frog. It was clear that it wasn't so much she thought kissing this slimy thing would be distasteful, but that the creature would be disappointed by herself. "It's not the first of which I dream, but each one that shall follow," the frog says. "But . . ." Her lip quivers. "I'm such a horrid girl." The frog croaks, "It is I that am the beast. Your kiss will save me." The bird watches as the girl hesitates, fighting some uglier creature locked away, deep