The Boys and the Frogs

“Now you boys remember to have fun, but remember there are always consequences for what you have done!” The boy's mother called after them. Though the boys knew that their adventure would have a different plan. As they stumbled and tumbled through the thick forest growth, one of the boys stood up tall.

“Look, look ! The old oak tree! Yes, the old oak tree, that’s what I can see!” and so they all rushed over to see it. Stepping over the roots and climbing up thick branches, until they reached the top. Then one of the boys, the oldest of them all, noticed something in the forest.

“Look, look! The pond, I can see it from here! Yes, the pond, I can see it for it is near!” The oldest boy tried to convince his brothers to join him in his trip to the pond, but they refused.

“The pond is full of beasts, oh so full of beasts awaiting a feast!” they shouted at him. Yet the boy thought himself brave, and so he ignored his brother's pleas and went forth anyway. Upon his arrival, he was greeted by a family of frogs sitting peacefully by the bank. The boy called his brothers over from the tree.

“There is nothing here but a mere family of frogs! No beasts, none at all, not even one!” and so all his brothers followed him to the edge of the pond. There they stood and observed the frogs, quietly hopping about. Then, the eldest brother picked up a stone but his youngest brother stopped him.

“Be careful brother, you don't know what the frogs could do! Remember what Mother had said, what not to do!” The boy pushed past his brother's hand.

“I know what Mother had said, but there is no malice in such an animal, not like that of man!” The boy threw the stone down at the poor frogs, killing one in the process. Some of the brothers saw a sport in the frogs trying to jump and retreat, and so they as well came to arms, raining stones down on them. Until one old frog poked his head out of the water and croaked.

“Please stop, my boys. We have done nothing to you nor your family!” but the boys ignored the old frog's plea and continued to throw stones at them, until only a few remained. Thinking themselves full of good adventures, the boys left the forest and returned home. Upon their arrival their mother greeted them.

“Oh hello my boys, did you have fun? Please recount to me what you have done”
So the boys took up their seats, re-telling the tale to that day's events. Until all became tense, for none of the boys wished to speak of the pond. Their mother grew uneasy in their silence.

“What after that, my boys?...” all of the boys averted their eyes, for they could not face their mother knowing they went against her word. Until the youngest spoke up.

“Then we went to the pond, Mother, for it was near. Yet there were no beasts so you need not fear” Their mother was pleased to hear this and so she let them all settle in for the night. As they all snuggle tight under the covers the eldest boy feels the sliver of a slimy hand upon his head. Then, just as he was about to scream, the old frog grabbed his tongue.

“Now hush, my boy, you do not wish to wake your brothers in such a rush” The boy tried to wiggle and squirm, but all his brothers were tucked in so tight, he could not move. The old frog looked at him with hatred in his eyes, and began to open the boy's mouth.

“Please, old frog, I beg of you, please spare me, I did nothing to you nor your family!” the old frog laughed at the irony of his words.

“Oh but you did, my boy, for all my family lay dead at the lake!” Then the old frog began to step into the boy's mouth, taking a seat upon his tongue.

“Yet it was a game, merely a sport! I never meant to insult you, old frog!” With those words the old frog began pushing his way down the boy's throat.

“Ah but my boy, what was sport to you was death to us”

The next morning their mother awoke to see all of her sons lying dead, all with a frog down their throat.

“Oh how could such a thing ever happen, what malice there must be in a frog, much more than that of man!”