Ive loved toads for years now. It started one summer when I had a little garden at an apartment, and it attracted toads. Then I had a pet toad that I loved so much, but I lost him. I decided then to just enjoy the toads I see outside rather than trying to keep them as pets.

When I got Rupert, and we would go for walks and see toads, he would nudge them gently with his nose, and then jump back if they jumped. Then hed slowly approach and nudge again. And jump back. I, of course, always have to try to pet them or pick them up, and talk to them. So Rupert knew I loved those little guys.

This evening, I was in the back yard, and I had a handful of little blossoms that had dropped off my sage plant. I took them over to Ruperts grave, which is just a spot in the middle of the yard, and sprinkled the flowers on it, and said hello to him. As I turned to walk away, something caught my eye. I looked back, didnt see anything, and as I turned, again, out of the corner of my eye, I saw something move.

After a few seconds, I went back and sat down for a closer look, and there was the tiniest baby toad barely a centimeter long, and the same color as the dirt. I picked him up so I could move him to one of the safe spots in my yard (I have little areas with toad houses and small, shallow water dishes for them, so that they arent tempted to jump in the pool). After I was holding him, I suddenly thought that maybe just maybe he was a gift from Rupert. A little message of love.

I so hope he was.