...time the Toad Woman. They were seen coming on a Friday afternoon; on Saturday the circus workers pitched their tent on the outskirts of the town, installed the animals' stable, and in the middle set up an awning with an entry door, another as an exit, and a sign that read: "This is the Palace of the Toad Woman. Try to keep silent."

People said it was wise to view the freak after going to mass, and this was the first condition imposed on Jotica by his mother. On Sunday, after the nine o'clock mass was over, the believers rose from their pews and counted out the ten pesos that was the price of admission to see the Toad Woman.

Jotica entered the palace with his father, his mother, and his little sister, all of them holding hands. They managed to get up close to a metal fence that had been erected to prevent visitors from touching the queen, and as she gazed at her, Jotica's mother was so affected that she squeezed her children against her body while their father clutched the metal tubing.

Josefina was on the table, at a distance of six feet, with neither a glass enclosure nor a security screen standing between her and them. Her height was that of an elf. Her skin was damp and violet colored; she had the legs of a toad and human hands, a feminine mouth, protuberant eyes with long lashes and bushy brows, an amphibian's nose, and reddish-brown hair, which was neatly combed and fell down the nape of her neck and along her cheeks to the surface of the table. Jotica and his family were looking at her sideways, and apart from the beautiful dampness of her skin, her slow, steady breathing was the only sign of life.

The throng pushed them until they found themselves directly in front of the queen, separated from her only by a little air and the metal railing. Her eyelids were closed, but behind them you could see her eyes moving. Beyond the shadow of a doubt the most beautiful part of her body was her eyelashes.

A sign hung from the edge of the table: "Queen Josefina was brought from Africa. She has never had children. She opens her eyes twice a month and does not like to move. Please do not throw her food or coins." A few bold men whistled at her and made flirtatious remarks, and some ladies...

NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.



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