Late one summer's evening a small girl and her mama found a tiny frog in a leaf of a basil bush.

After several failed attempts to catch the frog the mama gave up and watched it jump away out of the door of the hot house. But the small girl was eager and quicker and caught the tiny frog between the palms of her two hands.

And then she just stood there with her face so close to the frog's face, chatting and singing and asking it questions.

His name is Sammy! she announced after a bit and then took him inside to meet her sisters and her dog.

And after a while, although Sammy frog was a very polite and friendly house guest, the small girl decided it was time for the tiny frog to go home.



So the tiny frog, the small girl and her mama popped their boots on and walked down to the house dam to set the frog free.

Very slowly and carefully the small girl put her frog filled hand in the water.

But the frog jumped out of the water and up her arm.

Very slowly and carefully the small girl lowered her arm and the frog even deeper into the water.

But the tiny frog just climbed further up her arm.

That's it! cried the small girl, Sammy frog wants to live with me forever!
And she allowed herself to dream dreams of a wonderful, happily ever after with a water-lily filled aquarium in her bedroom and meals of freshly caught flies and bugs.




But as soon as she started to have those dreams, Sammy the tiny frog changed his mind and took a huge leap off the small girl's arm, up into the air, and then down into the dam.

He was a great swimmer too, kicking his legs in big froggy kicks all the way to the side bank.

And although the small girl said she would miss that tiny frog, it was probably just as well he'd gone home because it was getting dark and close to bed time and his froggy mama and family were probably getting worried about him.

I bet that tiny frog slept well after his great big adventure in the hands of the small girl, I know she certainly did.