Living in a Frog World (Male OC x Anne Boonchuy)

Part 1: Chapter 15: Hop Popular

"Hop Pop, we've got to talk," said 13-year-old Frank Ramirez and he, Anne, Sprig, and Polly stood in front of the elder frog. "It's not you, it's us...Oh, who am I kidding? No, it's definitely you."

Sitting on the couch, Hop Pop looked absolutely horrible. He smelt terrible, had flys over his head, and he hasn't shaved in days. He was dirty, with a stained under-shirt on, tired eyes with bags under them, and looked absolutely miserable. And it was evident how miserable he was when the old frog looked at the kids. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"Hop Pop, it's been two days now. You've been sitting on the couch and haven't moved an inch," Anne said, being very worried for him.

"Not to mention getting all gross." Polly added, which earned her a nudge from Anne.

"Are you feeling any better," asked Sprig.

Hop Pop sighed and looked down at the photo he had in his lap. Showing him standing next to the family stand. "No. Ever since we lost the vegetable stand I've just felt, well, lost. I was fine the first couple of days, but it's really starting to catch up with me."

"Well, maybe this will cheer you up. Pa-pow!" From her pocket, Anne pulled out a job pamphlet for the Grub-N-Go.

"The Grub-N-Go's hiring greeters!" Sprig explained. "All you gotta do is smile and be friendly."

"You can still smile, right?" Frank asked.

Still looking miserable, Hop Pop sighed miserably. "Just another job for me to lose," he moaned, slouching on the couch.

"Yeah? Well like it or not, you're getting a job. Even if I have to drag you there myself!" Frank said, grabbing the old frog and picking him up. Peeling his back off the couch. "Now let's get you back in the game."

"Put me down! The couch is the only one who understands me!" Hop Pop yelled, struggling to break free of Frank's grip.

"Don't worry. It'll be here when you come home," Frank said, carrying him to the door. However, he stopped and turned to Anne. Whispering, he said, "If the couch can't be saved, burn it."

Anne winked and nodded. And with that, Frank left to get Hop Pop ready.

After finally getting Hop Pop dressed and looking nice, Frank walked Hop Pop to the Grub-n-Go to give him some tips. His dad was the supervisor of the local Spendco back home, and would give Frank advice on everything to do in an interview. And with that knowledge, the young boy passed it down to Hop Pop.

While waiting for the old frog, Frank sat on the ground with his back against a crate while eating an apple and wrote in his journal. As he wrote about his current experiences in this strange world, Frank hummed Binary Sunset to himself. It was one of his favorite songs.

"Thank you, Mr. Plantar. Don't call us, we'll call you," said the manager inside the shop. Frank looked up and saw Hop Pop walking out of the store, before the manager shut the door behind him. Frank sighed, closed his journal, and ran towards his friend.

"Didn't go too well," Frank asked, already knowing the answer.

"Let's just go home," Hop Pop said, looking down at the ground in depression. How, he stopped when he noticed something up ahead. Up ahead was a large crowd of people that seemed to be surrounding something, or perhaps someone.

Standing high above everyone else, Frank saw that they were all gathered in front of the greedy mayor of the town, Toadstool. Glaring at the mayor that nearly got him killed, Frank asked, "What's going on here?"

"Sign-ups for the election!" exclaimed Wally, popping out from behind Frank, much to the boy's shock. "You been living under a rock? 'Cause I have and even I knew that."