Woman unexpectedly becomes host to a toad who lives in her shoe

• A toad appeared on a woman’s porch one evening.
• The woman offered her shoe for the toad to live in.
• The toad came back after winter to live in the woman’s shoe. 

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A small green visitor appeared unexpectedly on Sita Hood’s front porch one evening last year. The guest was a toad, and she made herself at home without hesitation. 

Hood had the option of expelling that brazen amphibian. Instead, she presented her with a shoe.

The toad enjoyed herself so much on the first night that she chose to stay. She’d nibble on bugs on and around Hood’s porch every day after dusk from then on.

She became a staple there that Hood gave her the name Jabba, and even left the light on to attract bugs for the toad. 

Jabba would always return to her favorite area — one of Hood’s running shoes left out on the porch — when she wasn’t hungry or just needed to relax.

Hood couldn’t wear her shoe since it was occupied by a toad. But she didn’t mind.

“Donating my shoe was no big deal,” she said. “If it afforded her comfort or protection, why not?”

Hood’s kindness was clearly appreciated by Jabba, and she didn’t forget about it.

One day as the summer was nearing its end, Hood watched Jabba hop away from the shoe, off the porch, and into the woods surrounding her home, most likely to hibernate during the colder months.

Hood’s footwear was clear of toads for the first time in months, but that wouldn’t last long.

The following spring, Jabba reappeared in Hood’s shoe.

Jabba’s second summer at home in Hood’s shoes followed a similar pattern to the first. There was, however, one minor setback.

It appears that not everyone was aware of Jabba and Hood’s agreement.

A well-meaning friend picked up Hood’s shoes and put the toad in the flower bed.

“I put my shoes back and, undeterred, Jabba was back later that night,” said Hood. 

She even hung a sign above the shoes to ensure that there would be no more unjustified evictions.

Jabba’s second summer in the shoe came to an end, as had her first. She simply stood up and left one day.

Hood is unsure whether she will return next year, but her memories of the toad will live on.

Although Hood certainly never expected to host a toad and go above and beyond in the process, Jabba was more than just a toad residing in her shoe.

“I was grateful and delighted to have a friendship with Jabba,” she said. “We are all part of the web of life, and on good days, [are] all here for each other.”

Source: The Dodo