SEA OF FROGS

at her perfect plan to flaunt Richard Harmony as her successful famous boyfriend would totally fail. As she stumbled out of the car, a sharp pain stabbed th

er that Richard had cancelled due to a last-minute acting session. Tears gathered i

fill in for someone of my class,” she mumbled, her voice ec

ous!” She yelled

meone more important than Richard’s assistant

eryone I could, and no one was available. Richard said

she could introduce to her family as her “boyfriend” for the week but there was no luck. As she continued to look arou

in greeting. “My name is Mike Ri

s had faded completely and his shoes, his funny looking shoes looked like the boat that Moana had sailed in. The sight of him increa

he car,”

e’s cold reception. He decide

help. I can even pretend to be Richard. I might not look like him, but I

pearances, but she knew that being stuck with someone she disliked was better

lly replied. “But you can only do this because I’m desperate. You better no

my word,”

s for Mike, since he was going to play pretend boyfriend to her for the week, he had

t makeover, at least in the clothes department, something to make him loo

e had never been in a store like this before, and he felt out of place. He looked at th

abbed several outfits and shoes, and handed them to Mike.

ting room and changed into the new clothes. He couldn’t believe how expensi

provingly. “You look a little bit better,” she said. ‘Now

t would help to complete Mike’s transformation.

y were to say that they met at a charity event in New York and Mike was an actor.

impress her family during their trip to Bali. She knew her mom could be nosy, and her sister, Keke, was always quick with sarcastic remarks. As th

nts came out to greet them. Her mother, Mrs. Wilson, a sophisticated woma

assistant?” Mrs. Wilson aske

nced at Mike, who was dressed in the new clothes she had bought for him at

rying to sound convincing. “

ile. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Wilson.

ignored his request for a handshake completely and she tur

r story, at least for now. However, she couldn’t ignore the sarcastic g

st making a snide comment. “Wow, Venice, you di

a warning look as she r

e tension, added, “It’s a

urned to her parents. “Mee

g. It seemed like they had passed the initial test, but she

d in, but it was evident

air. Mike didn’t seem to blend in well with her family’s luxurious lifestyle, and it was ev

l us more about yourself. W

story about being a successful businessman, he replied, “I am an

raised an eyebrow. “Impress

It’s a venture capital firm, inv

couldn’t help feeling anxious about her parents’ curios

y struggled to maintain the facade of a loving couple, often stumbling over their

, again?” Keke asked, her

ir made-up love story. “Well, it’s a bit of a fairy tale, r

e my eyes off Venice. We danced the

oser. “Sounds like somethi

rassment. She knew Keke was enjoyi

ith forced smiles and

d to engage her sister, Keke, in conversation. She knew that Keke had been dating

d, “How about your boyfrie

ce, my star player. He couldn’t bear to be away from me, but he has a game today. He’ll

nimpressed. “W

“His name is Bryan. Bryan Gone

ow him. “Well the name sounds familiar, but I

Eagles, Venice. They’re one of the top teams in the

responded. “Oh

yan has been instrumental in their succe

lly throwing Jabs at her sister and laughing in an at