Seeing as Baxter is a turtle, the ride takes a good bit of time. Neither of them mind in the least. “Oh goodness me!” says Mona, fanning herself, as she climbs off of Baxter’s back when they reach Toad’s front yard.
Toad has been watching their arrival, peering at them in his all-knowing, inscrutable way. He greets them and says he is dining al fresco today as it is cleaning day in the Toad Burrows.
He’s not sure if he’s having the tail end of a long-lasting breakfast, a mid-morning snack or an early lunch. But he is enjoying it. He invites them to share his meal of “Mosquito Burritos” with a side of ‘Tick on a Stick’. Baxter is tempted by the Tick on a Stick but they both decline.
Mona explains the issue to Toad. He is very patient despite Mona’s sort of rambling explanations and frequent bouts of mournful moaning. At last Mona finishes and looks at Toad expectantly. He pops the last plump tick into his mouth, rubs his rubbery hand over his face and tells them he will need a little time to develop a course of action. He tells Mona that in the meantime she might want to wait around a bit as the cleaning crew is due to arrive. “With all of the additions to Toad Burrows, Mrs. Toad has need of some assistance. They will be here in two shakes of a frog’s tail.” This is a favorite expression of Toad’s; as no one knows how long it takes for a frog to shake his tail, his prediction is always considered accurate.
Just then, with a fanfare of chirping and whirring, two skitter bugs arrive. They are identical twins and they each are dressed in a chartreuse jumpsuit accompanied by a hot pink bandana.
“This is Spic and Span,” says Toad, making introductions. “They are the cleaning crew I told you about.” Spic is carrying an acorn bucket and a horsefly tail mop. Span has a milkweed seed whiskbroom in the pocket of his jumpsuit ad he’s giving Mona a kind of a ‘I’m smelling dead fish’ look.
Toad explains the catastrophe that has befallen her and the two brothers are overcome with sympathy. “Oh you poor thing! I would just die!” says Spic. “Wouldn’t you just die Span?”
“Oh goodness yes. I’d die and go to skitter bug heaven right then and there!” he answers. “Just you leave it to us Sister! We’ll have you spic and span in no time flat or we’re not Spic and Span!”
“Two shakes of a frog’s tail,” says Toad.
The two start to work on Mona and it’s a frenzied blur they work so fast. They are soon doing the final touches, Spic coloring Mona’s polished toes a pleasing shade call Poke Berry Plum. And Span has chosen a complementary shade of Dusky Black Mulberry for her beak. “O, you so look like a million dollars, Baby!” they say as they stand back to admire their handiwork.
8.