Party at the Pond Read Free

“Spitter, spatter, splash. Lovely!”

    â€œAnd when you dance to the moon and the stars my babies and I stay up all the way to sunrise,” Possum said. “Just watching celebration.”

    Frog peered over a lily pad. “But I am not a very good dancer.”
    â€œNo matter. Your dancing is filled with joy so it fills us with joy.”
    â€œReally?” Frog came out of the pond.
    â€œMaybe you should dance, too. Doing is always better than watching. Come dance with me, everyone.”
    â€œWe are not very good dancers,” everyone said.
    â€œNo matter,” Frog told them.
    They danced to the moon and the stars all the way to sunrise.
    And the night around them danced, too.

No Kisses for Frog
    Frog did not know what had happened.
    He was asleep on his rock and then he was not.
    He was hanging in a net. Oh no!

    A voice said, “Got you!”
    Frog tried to jump out. But a hand blocked the top of the net.

    Two eyes stared in at him.
    Frog stared back.
    â€œIn case you do not know, I am a girl,” the voice said.
    â€œLet me out!” Frog jumped again and hit his head. “Ouch!”
    â€œSorry,” the girl said. “I am going to hold you. And then I am going to kiss you.”
    â€œ
What
?” Frog was shocked.

    â€œWhen I kiss you, you will turn into a prince,” the girl said. “And you will marry me. And I will be a princess.”
    â€œ
What
? ” Frog was shocked again.
    â€œHold still!” The girl lifted Frog.
    She held him close to her face. They were eyeball-to-eyeball.
    â€œI am sorry you are so ugly,” the girl said.
    Frog sniffed. “I am sorry you are so rude.”

    The girl made an O of her lips. Her face came closer. She closed her eyes.
    â€œWait!” Frog croaked in his bossiest voice. “I do not want to be a prince. I like being a frog. If you make me be a prince, I will not marry you.”

    She opened her eyes. “Why not?” she asked.
    â€œYou would not be happy with me. I shed my skin a few times each year. It is not a pretty sight. Do you want me to show you?”
    The girl shuddered. “No. Thank you.”

    â€œI like to sleep underwater. Cold, cold water.”
    â€œBrr,” the girl said.
    â€œI like to have flies and moths for dinner. I catch them on my sticky tongue. See?” Frog flipped out his tongue. A squashed fly, four bumblebee legs, and a half mosquito were still stuck on it since lunch.

    â€œOh, yuk and double yuk.”
    â€œBy the way, your hands are too warm. I am quite uncomfortable,” Frog said.

    â€œI am sorry.” The girl opened her hands a little. “You will not do those things when you are a prince.”
    â€œI will. You could change me outside.
    But I will always be a frog at heart. What things do girls do?”
    â€œWe jump rope. We play soccer. We climb trees.”
    â€œI do not think princesses jump rope or play soccer or climb trees. A princess has to wear a crown, and sew, and sit at long dinners. Long, long, long dinners. You will still be a girl at heart. And you will not be happy.”

    â€œYou are wise,” the girl said. “Being a princess sounds boring. I think I will stay agirl.”
    Frog smiled. “And I will stay a frog.
    Will you please let me go now?”
    â€œYes,” the girl said. “But first I will kiss you because we are friends.”
    â€œOh no! That might be dangerous. We could shake hands.”
    â€œGood.”
    They shook hands.
    She set Frog down and he quickly hopped into his pond. “Come back and see me again,” he called. “But no kisses.”

    He finished off the squashed fly, the four bumblebee legs, and the half mosquito that were left over from lunch. They were delicious.
    Then he took a nap.
    It was so good to be a frog.