by Teresa A. DiNicola –
Once upon a creek, there lived two frogs. One was named Frick, and the other was named Frack.
Under a scorching sun, Frick croaked, “It hasn’t rained in months. Our creek is bone dry.”
“I sure am thirsty,” croaked Frack.
“I think it’s time we find a new home!” said Frick, with a little hop.
Together, the frogs jumped through the wilting fields, to find another creek. HOP HOP PLOP! They jumped past leafless trees and berryless bushes. They plodded over dusty hillsides and rocky slopes.
After searching all morning, they couldn’t find a drop of water. So, they flopped down to rest in the shade of a big rock.
“It’s hopeless,” sighed Frack, “Without water we’ll croak.”
Frick said, “I’m not ready to croak just yet.” He hopped up the side of the jagged rock to the tippy top. He shouted, “look, a lake!”
Frack followed his friend to the top. He said, “I don’t see anything. You must be seeing a mirage.”
Ignoring his friend, Frick took a flying leap off the rock, sailed through the air, and landed with a dry thump on his rump. He picked himself up, dusted off his sore bottom and cried, “you were right. It WAS a mirage!”
Feeling downtrodden, the frogs continued trudging through the dry fields. HOP HOP PLOP!
By late afternoon, there still was no sign of water. Then, Frick raised his head and glanced up at the horizon. “It must be another mirage,” he said. “I think I see a well just ahead.”
Frack cried, “This time, I see it too!”
The frogs flopped through a patch of shriveled wildflowers, rustling in the hot breeze. HOP HOP PLOP! They leaped up onto the rocky ledge of the well.
As they both gazed down the brick hole, Frack said, “Oh no. It’s a long way down to the water.”
“So what?” said Frick. “I think we should dive in. The water looks good and we’re so thirsty.”
“That may be true,” Frack said, “But, it’s so far down, we may not be able to leap out.”
Frick thought for a moment. Then he agreed, “Maybe you’re right.”
With their throats parched, and the heat beating down, the frogs wandered on in search of a new home. Scrambling along a faint dirt path, with their legs dragging behind, they could think only of water.
Then, the most amazing thing happened! Suddenly, the sun disappeared behind the clouds, and the sky darkened. PLIP! A drop of rain landed on top of Frick’s head. PLOP! A second drop landed on top of Frack’s head. Then, all at once, buckets and buckets of cool, refreshing rain came pouring down from the heavens!
“I’m so glad we used our heads and didn’t leap into that deep well,” said Frick.
“Remember, always look before you leap.” said Frack, his bulging eyes sparkling.
The frogs crooned, “Ribbit! Ribbit!” as they SPLISHED and SPLASHED in a muddy puddle, having a whooping, hopping good time.
Story inspired by:
“The Frogs and the Well.” Aesop’s Fables. A translation by V.S. Verson Jones, Published by W. Heinemann, Doubleday Page; London, New York. 1912. page 160.
THE FROGS AND THE WELL (1912) (p. 160)
A Fable by Aesop
Two frogs lived together in a marsh. But one hot summer the marsh dried up, and they left it to look for another place to live in: for frogs like damp places if they can get them. By and by they came to a deep well, and one of them looked down into it and said to the other, “This looks a nice cool place: let us jump in and settle here. But the other, who had a wiser head on his shoulders, replied, “Not so fast, my friend. Supposing this well dried up like the marsh, how should we get out again?” Think twice before you act.
Question Time
1. Why was the frogs’ creek dry?
2. The first time Frick thought he saw a lake, was it really a lake, or was it a mirage? What about the second time?
3. How did the frogs finally get water?
4. Why did Frack say always look before you leap?
