Kiss your frogs - a modern fairytale

International train ride

*Daniel*

“So … tell me again Daniel … why is it that we are taking the train to Paris ?” Danny lets his hand slide over the leather seat as he looks around in the first class compartment.

I pull off my jacket and hang it on the small hanger, before sitting down opposite him. “Travel time isn’t much longer than the plane, we don’t have to go through the airport and with the dogs … much less hassle”.

He reaches down to scratch his pit bull Trixie between her ears. “We like that, don't we, girl ? It was a great idea to bring the dogs by the way … Trixie is going to love Fairytale land”.

“Do you expect your dog to enjoy a theme park ?” I chuckle. “Or is she just going to enjoy eating the cute mouse characters ?”

“Hey, Trixie is a good girl … she would never eat a mouse … That annoying duck on the other hand … she doesn't really like ducks … what about Buddy ?”

I shake my head. “Buddy won’t eat anyone”.

“No I mean, you think he is going to enjoy fairytale land”. He says with a laugh, looking at my dog. Buddy c***s his head, looking back.

I shrug. “If he is walked and fed and not left alone for too long he is happy, I don't think he cares much if he is in London or Paris”.

“Come on Quinn … lighten up”. He shakes his head. “We are going for a 2 month holiday in the most magical place in the world”.

“Work Walker … work … we are going to Fairytale land to work”. But I can’t help smiling at his enthusiasm. two months with him and Aiden … that’s a lot of energy to be around.

We, that would be Danny, Aiden and I, have all agreed to do a special promotion job, halfway holiday at Fairytale land in Paris, where we show up in the costumes of our characters. Aiden recently voiced their newest Cartoon hit and me and Danny started in the newest Superhero movie. The park is promoting it as ‘summer of surprises, find the hidden gems’ and people get a prize if they realize it is actually us.

Danny seems to ignore that and gives me a lopsided grin. “I have heard the french girls are beautiful … and very … amorous”.

“Well there are beautiful women all over the world”. I lean back in my seat. “So looking for a holiday fling … or something more serious ?”

“A fling ? Why not a lot of flings … I am too young to settle down … and you look like you could use some fun too”. He wiggles his eyebrows.

I shake my head. “I am not looking for fun or anything else, just want to relax and get through these two months”.

“Don’t be such a bore … Aiden is single too, right ?” I nod when he looks at me. “We’ll be three single guys out on town … those little french honeys won’t know what hit them. I mean we won’t hit them … but you know what I mean”.

“I know Danny … but I want to find HER … my soulmate I guess … and with our job, it’s just not easy, but I am over the fling thing and I think Aiden feels the same … sorry”. I give him an apologetic smile.

He makes a face. “But how will you know she is the right one, if you don’t let her get close … you need to kiss some toads to find a princess”.

“Frogs Danny and a prince”. I sigh.

“You want to find a prince ?” He looks at me with confusion, but then he shrugs. “Well if it makes you happy”.

I roll my eyes. “No … but the saying is that you need to kiss a lot of frogs to find the prince … not toads and princesses”.

“Oh … ”. He nods. “So … no prince ?”

I can’t help laughing. “No Danny, no prince and no princess … more like a queen … and no not the drag kind, just to clear it up before you ask”.

“I wasn’t going to ask”. He says, then my phone starts buzzing and he looks at it. “Your phone is ringing”.

“I … yeah”. I check the number. “Oh it's Aiden. Excuse me”.

I pick up and before I can answer, Aiden’s energetic voice sounds from the other end. “Daniel, my man … I just got off the plane in Paris and I am headed to my car … how far are you and junior ?”

“Hey Aiden … on the train … we’ll be there in about 2 hours”. I tell him. “And what’s with the junior ?”

“Well Daniel and Daniel … he is younger, so junior”. He is silent for a moment. “Which would make you senior, which is bad as I am older than you … hmm Well on another note, I still can’t believe you are going by train, that is so … European of you”.

I glance at Danny. “You and the kid are going to hit it off, I have no doubt about that”.

*Aiden*

“Welcome to Fairytale land hotel Mr Lee, it is such an honor to have you here”. A hotel manager with a rather thick french accent says, bowing slightly when I arrive at the beautiful hotel right at the entrance of the park.

“Thank you … ”. I read his name tag. “ … Pierre … and please call me Aiden”.

He nods again. “Aiden then, this way, let me show you to your suite … the boy will take your luggage”.

After letting the bellhop take my suitcase, I give him a friendly smile. It will be nice to relax a bit in the room before the Daniels arrive. “Thanks”.

I follow Pierre to the elevator and he pushes the button to the top floor. “You, Mr Quinn and Mr Walker have our three best suits of course … we hope you will enjoy your stay with us”.

“I am sure I will, it’s a very beautiful hotel … and the location is unbeatable”. I say truthfully.

“Oh Thank you … Thank you very much”. He smiles happily and walks out and down the hallway, as the elevator plings and the doors open.

He uses a keycard to open a door, holding it open for me with the smile of a proud parent. I look around. “Oh very nice”.

“It’s very kind of you sir”. He beams at me. “In here is the bedroom, and the bathroom … the minibar of course is complementary and if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call”.

I accept the keycard he hands me and slips him a hundred euro bill in return. “Thank you Pierre”.

He kind of bows, walking backwards out the room. “Thank you sir … Aiden … have a nice evening”.

As soon as the door is closed behind him I go to look out the window. It’s a very spectacular view over fairytale land.

I chuckle and shake my head. “Aiden old boy, what have you gotten yourself into ?”