The Toad Man

There once was a man with the features likely of a toad. Though ugly and covered in warts he was, he possessed a heart of gold.
This man was poor and wore tattered clothes that did nothing to help his appearance. People would poke fun and taunt the toad man constantly, but he would never retort rudely or allow himself to fight. He would quite often nod quietly, and showed a gapped tooth smile. Sometimes he would blink his big saucer eyes in appreciation.  That usually frightened the person off.
The toad man faired fine on his own, lonely and shabby he may be. Yet every once in a while, he wished that he could find someone to share his life with, someone to love. But he knew that no one would want to love a poor, hideous man like he. Even the women, disfigured and more ugly than he, found the toad man repulsive. Not even his good manners and kind heart could please them.
It was a nice summer day when the toad man decided to go to the streets to look at the traders' goods. The man had been strolling through the less expensive side of the street when a woman accidently bumped into him, knocking the coin purse from his hands.  Seeing her fine clothes and costly necklace, he immediately forgot about his purse and began to apologize. He hoped not to be shooed away, for he had been eyeing a pretty harmonica with his big saucer eyes.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! Please, excuse me!"  The woman exclaimed sheepishly from her high place above the man. With out a care for the people behind her, she bent quickly down and gathered up the purse and the coins that had spilt from it.  People behind eyed the woman and the toad man blankly.
"Probably from pity." A man uttered smartly, grinning.
"Be quiet, fool!" The woman barked sharply, handing the toad man his purse.
"I don't need to be quiet, woman!" Others mumbled agreement and pushed past the lady and the toad man. The woman's cheeks burned red with anger and she gripped the toad mans hand, tugging him away from the taunting crowd.
"I'm so sorry, madam..." The toad man gasped, trying to not be dragged behind her. She halted abruptly and turned around to face him. The man stood boldly, waiting for her to scold him brutally.
Instead, she glanced angrily at the other people before asking bluntly, "What is it that you were here to buy?" The toad man eyed her curiously.
"A harmonica," he answered hesitantly, "a pretty silver harmonica."
"Come with me, please. I won't be so fast this time." The anger faded from her face and she smiled kindly, slowly walking back to the place they had met. "Is this the one?" She asked brightly, pointing to the harmonica with the engraved top. The toad man smiled, blushing lightly.
"No, ma'am. That one is much to expensive."
"Would you like that one?" The woman inquired.
"You needn't need to buy anything for me." The toad man chimed gently as he saw her hand search for her purse.
"But do you want it?" She repeated disobediently, still smiling the toad man laughed.
"Only if I saved up enough for it."
Quick as a wink, the woman presented him with the shimmering silver harmonica. The attractive violet colored velvet surrounding it was soft against his hand as she pressed the treasure into it.
Before he could say anything, she chirped again,  "Do you know how to play it?"
The toad man, eager to thank her in any way possible, quickly whipped out the harmonica and began to play a familiar folk song on it. The woman, after listening happily for a few moments, pleasantly began to sing along.
Without a care in the world, the two continued to play and sing. And there, before every street trader and buyer's eyes, the toad man transformed into a handsome man.