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 Texas : Features : Columns : Spunky Flat and Beyond :
THE ENTREPRENEURS
by George Lester
George Lester
My brother Sam and I went frog gigging with brothers Bill and Jesse and another fellow who will be left unnamed. In order to gig frogs you had to wade out into the water, turn around and face the shore and look for their eyes reflecting back in your flashlight beam. It was early spring in our area near Gladewater, Texas and the water was still cold but a serious frog gigger doesn’t let a little thing like being numb up to the neck hinder him. Jobs for teenagers in the late 30s were scarce and selling frogs was one of the few ways we could pick up a little ready cash. The five of us would take turns in the water two at a time while the others warmed their frozen bodies by a fire. Not only did we have to contend with the chilly water but there were other hazards as well. Once, while I concentrated on my quarry I detected something moving in the faint light before me. I glanced down to see huge water moccasin swimming right under my nose. The quest continued without a break.

After several hours we had a pretty good catch of amphibians. They ranged in size from about ten inches up to one mighty creature at least eighteen inches long. We started dividing up the frogs among the five of us when the unnamed fellow offered us a deal. He said if we would let him have the largest one we could have all the rest. I wondered why he would be willing to take just one frog, no matter how large and let us have the rest. We agreed, feeling as if we had struck a great bargain with him. As he walked away he laughed and said that he had really taken advantage of us. He explained that people preferred the giant frogs and we wouldn’t even be able to sell the small ones.

After the unnamed one left Jesse, Sam and I hung our heads and felt like dunces being taken like that. For some strange reason Bill had a smug smile on his face. We soon knew why when he reached in the sack and pulled out the biggest catch of the night. The unnamed one had settled for the SECOND largest frog. We had the largest and all the rest.
© George Lester
Spunky Flat and Beyond - A Memoir

September 7, 2004
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