Excuse me, Mr. Mallett? I have a Mr. Pastis on line 2. He says he wants to let you know that a Mr. Rat is on his way over with that baseball bat that you apparently requested…
My younger brother and I caught a great big toad and were carrying him home in a paper bag when we ran into a friend of our older brother. The friend took the toad out of the bag to see it and it peed all over his clothes. Of course my brother and I thought this was the funniest thing we had ever seen.
You guys (almost) all missed the point. In the next panel (not shown) Rat comes in with a baseball bat, saying something like “He didn’t have miles to go.”
“Dear Friends, look around now, chose the nearest exit to your seat, and in case of disturbance of any kind, to avoid the danger of panic, walk – do not run – to that exit. And now we ask you all to shift on your sanitary pedestals and join us in that great old hymn – By Order of P.D.”
Toad away, toad awayToad away, toad awayWhere do you go when you’reToad away?"
I have read that the liquid they expel when picked up is actually a skin secretion, used as a defense mechanism. It apparently has a foul taste, so when a predator picks it up in its mouth, it immediately drops it.
pony21 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
There used to be toads everywhere when I was a kid. Loved them (never got peed on). Have not seen a toad in years now.
mddshubby2005 almost 5 years ago
From “The Toad Not Shaken”, by Robert Moss. Or something similar.
Ontman almost 5 years ago
The tiny ones were all over the place when I used to cut the lawn. Unfortunately some didn’t ‘make it’.
Kroykali almost 5 years ago
Thar was toadaly ridiculous.
asrialfeeple almost 5 years ago
Caulfields sense of humor seems to be toad.
Jeff0811 almost 5 years ago
Someone should tell on them. I would but I am taking the road less tattled.
docforbin almost 5 years ago
We actually have that “Road Less Traveled” line on the sign welcoming people to my town.
Ignatz Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Has Jef Mallet been hanging around with Stephan Pastis again?
andyboda almost 5 years ago
I love that the path diverges, didn’t notice that until after the punchline.
The Old Wolf almost 5 years ago
Channeling Pastis, now, are we? grÔan!
DonLee2 almost 5 years ago
Two toads diverged, with a yellow flood, and I …
sandpiper almost 5 years ago
Re-e-e-e-aching. But funny anyway.
rugeirn almost 5 years ago
Blasphemy! You mess with Frost, you tread on sacred ground! Or not. Just sayin’.
jessegooddog almost 5 years ago
Love the idyllic setting
Bill The Nuke almost 5 years ago
Went toad hunting with my granddaughter last night (catch and release). Easily caught 5 in my front yard and a big Cuban tree frog.
Herb L 1954 almost 5 years ago
If in a tow away zone,your car would be toad ;)
DavidPlatt almost 5 years ago
Hedge toads?
lagoulou almost 5 years ago
Luv the graphics here!
Ignatz Premium Member almost 5 years ago
And Jef Mallet (as “Jef the Cyclist”) is in today’s Pearls. Coincidence?
rroush Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Robert Frost just sat up in his grave and screamed.
The Brooklyn Accent almost 5 years ago
They had to leave the yellow brick road and go back to the howling old owl in the woods, hunting the horny back toad.
Mel-T-Pass Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Pastis is jealous he didn’t come up with this one.
Teto85 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I love the poem and have a book with that title. Good poem and great book.
kaylasdad99 almost 5 years ago
Excuse me, Mr. Mallett? I have a Mr. Pastis on line 2. He says he wants to let you know that a Mr. Rat is on his way over with that baseball bat that you apparently requested…
MITZI almost 5 years ago
Jef Mallett: Wonderfully crafted pun!
jvn almost 5 years ago
With all apologies to Robert Frost. And Stephen Pastis.
Jan C almost 5 years ago
My younger brother and I caught a great big toad and were carrying him home in a paper bag when we ran into a friend of our older brother. The friend took the toad out of the bag to see it and it peed all over his clothes. Of course my brother and I thought this was the funniest thing we had ever seen.
TheWildSow almost 5 years ago
Knock Knock…
Who’s there?
A Rat with a Bat!
Concretionist almost 5 years ago
Frazz toad the line: His wit is dry.
eromlig almost 5 years ago
You guys (almost) all missed the point. In the next panel (not shown) Rat comes in with a baseball bat, saying something like “He didn’t have miles to go.”
childe_of_pan almost 5 years ago
“Dear Friends, look around now, chose the nearest exit to your seat, and in case of disturbance of any kind, to avoid the danger of panic, walk – do not run – to that exit. And now we ask you all to shift on your sanitary pedestals and join us in that great old hymn – By Order of P.D.”
Toad away, toad awayToad away, toad awayWhere do you go when you’reToad away?"
Happy, happy, happy!!! Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Boo! :D
Alec McLure Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Made my day!
adrianrune almost 5 years ago
If you study the shape of those toadstools you’ll understand why the little guys eyes bulge out. Imagine if they could scream “OUCH!”
homfencing almost 5 years ago
Robert Frost is rolling in his grave…LAUGHING, but rolling!
marshalljpeters Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I have read that the liquid they expel when picked up is actually a skin secretion, used as a defense mechanism. It apparently has a foul taste, so when a predator picks it up in its mouth, it immediately drops it.
jgeld almost 5 years ago
I wonder if Jef got this one from Pastis.
jel354 almost 5 years ago
Puns are Pastis’s territory.
banjinshiju almost 5 years ago
Nice tribute to Robert Frost!
gorgolo_chick almost 5 years ago
Stephan Pastis has a lot to answer for.
cleehilllaw almost 5 years ago
Mallett is trying to out pun Pastis. Of course, Mallett’s pun is much milder and literary than many of Pastis’Besides, I love Frost.