As it comes to pass the spring follows the winter here in Calhoun County. With spring comes the rise in passion of the boys in Calhoun County. Merle Morgan has been setting his hat for Joan Miller ever since the start of class last year. He has done everything he could to get her attention but she has not looked at him once and shortly school will be out and Merle is afraid he will not see Joan over the summer and gives up. The English teacher has asked the class to write one last essay before summer break and Merle sits down to write his.

There is this girl, he begins, with hair so golden it makes the room shine when she comes in. There is this girl with a smile so bright it makes my world light up. There is this girl with a personality that is so good it makes those around her glad to be with her. There is this girl that I would love to hold, to be near and just to have in my company. This will never happen because I will never be able to tell her these things for you see I am just this boy that cares so very much.

Merle turns in his paper and lets it go at that. The next day Merle's teacher asks if she can read his paper to the class and Merle tells her yes she can. As the teacher is reading the paper to the class Merle looks over at the Joan and she smiles at him. After class Merle hurries out of the class. A part of him has been shared with the rest of the world and he is not sure if he is happy with that and besides he is sure that Joan knew it was her he was writing about.

Merle leaves school and joins the service and is sent to war and comes home on leave on a fine Spring day when the roses are in bloom and the air is fresh with the smells of new life. Merle runs into Joan at the local hangout and Joan asks him why he never asked her out.

You were the queen and I was the frog, Merle replies I was afraid of you. Joan reaches over takes Merle in her arms and kisses him then steps back an looks at him thoughtfully before replying, perhaps you should have given me the chance to choose the frog the princess was going to kiss.

Merle does not understand and replies perhaps. Then slowly picks up his cup and walks to the door never telling Joan it was her that he had dreamed of when he was fighting, that it was her that he looked forward to coming home to when he was sent home. That it was the thought of her that drove his ever mood and his faithfulness to her that kept him going when he was most scared.

Merle went back to his duty station and the next time he saw Joan she was married and had two children and she was still wondering what if as was he.