The Narrators

      (A crackle in the distance.)

      so this is the first part the one you’ve got to land on first (GIRLS: 127-18-4. On repeat.) the one you leap to by merit of thumbs though there were numbers before this and you were certain of them we could even return to them now but this is the first first this is the number you’ve got to learn and there are others who have crouched in one one one one they’ve flipped here too it’s a certainty we’re dealing with (FROGS: Brekekekex-koax-koax.) don’t think about the second part we’re not there yet we’re here in part one where your thumb brought you or an index finger you favour more this is the first of firstness you understand the a-priority (GIRLS: Heavy sigh.) are you okay with the others that came before or is sharing a compromise if it is then I’m sorry start again this is the first and you are the first first and no one will ever come again really this is a problem of memory who is the subject or the object who starts I assure you all we have is this moment this moment this one so you start or I start pick your past and your present and use them (GIRLS: 7439-92-1. Once. Loudly.) start here with the

      tangibles with the arm the leg we’ve got to count them and the Frogs and the Girls will all act as though nothing has happened and you’ll figure this swallows though we don’t yet coo are you an infant that cries maw maw maw at a finger you mistook for a nipple (GIRLS: Heavy sigh.) the tongue goes in the mouth that’s the first thing on the first page the tongue going nowhere and the Frogs and the Girls will say nothing has happened and they wait for part two and part three where there is hope of limbs and mingled hands where fingers can do more than count (FROGS: Love!) but they are parts too are only parts that work with other parts you see how this is all coming together you see we’re all coming together (GIRLS: Heavy sigh.) or is that a compromise of first firsts this is all a problem one then two then three then then then you are more or less finished and this has all lasted a while a moment you favour more the one arm the one leg the hop hop frog the hop hop girl with their fingers koaxing the page

      (The Narrators: Pause. Listening.)

      you see how nothing is happening again the tongue goes in the mouth and closes

      Frogs

      Appendix A. Amphibian limb. Amphibian deformities. Limb deformities. Pond. Pathogen-mediated deformities. Thallium744-28-3. Explained deformities. Appendix B. Amphibian malformation. Studies. Limb segments. Deformities. Girl. Polydactyly. Abnormalities. Appendix C. Limb object. Beryllium7440-41-7. Atypical. Untypical. Nontypical. Unrepresentative. Rare. Isolated. Appendix D. Irregular. Anomalous. Deviant. Divergent. Aberrant. Strange. Crysene218-01-9. Odd. Appendix E. Peculiar. Curious. Bizarre. Weird. Queer. Eccentric. Idiosyncratic. Quirky. Unexpected. Unfamiliar. Unconventional. Appendix F. Lead7439-92-1. Surprising. Unorthodox. Singular. Exceptional. Extraordinary. Out of the ordinary. Out of the way. Appendix G. Unnatural. Perverse. Perverted. Phenol108-95-2. Twisted. Warped. Unhealthy. Distorted.

      Girls

      (In turn.)

      How should we proceed? Fingers are nipples. We face forward and sing here. Have you found the way? We face forward. Hold the place with your thumb. Is it about love? Can you read it? We’ll draw each other out. But we look so strange to ourselves. Who will draw us then? A mouth opening sounds like a hind leg. We face forward. Who says?

      The Narrators

      (Frog One stands centre stage. Spotlight. Top hat and cane. Tap shoes. The cane may be used as a limb if no other is available. Narrators a cappella. Pause briefly between lines for performance.)

      Incomplete Upper Hind Limb: No knee

      Multiple Hind Limbs: Complete

      Small Lower Jaw with protruding tongue

      Bone Bridge: Hind limb

      Multiple Fore Limbs: Complete

      Extra (complete) Digit(s): Fore limb

      Incomplete Lower Hind Limb: No foot

      Multiple Hind Limbs: Split

      Incomplete Upper Fore Limb: No elbow

      Partial Duplication of Digit(s): Hind limb

      Incomplete Fore Limb: Partial fore foot (hand)

      (Walk off.)

      Frogs

      This is odd. (Pause. Huff.) There are too many limbs. Why limbs? Why toes on limbs? Why limbs at all? Why fear of limbs? This isn’t deformity. Where are legs? Two legs. Where are elbows? Why nose? Why this instead of houses? Why boxes? Why not explain? Why mention? Why