On a very beautiful and sunny day, a young girl working on
her family’s farm went outside to tend to the farmyard as usual. Slipping on
her boots and hat, she set out to get her chores done. Washing the barn,
feeding the animals, and plowing the fields, the girl worked for many hours
until the sun began to set. The girl, now tired and in need of rest, headed to
the family’s nearby pond to wash off her boots and enjoy the sunset before
going in for dinner. Scrubbing off the dirt and mud from her boots, the girl
sat by the water and looked over the trees towards the orange sky. As she sat
there and enjoyed the evening air, a small frog hopped out of the pond and
rested next to the girl. She turned to look at the frog as it let out a croak
to get her attention.
The
farm girl smiled at the frog and lifted it into her hands, looking at his small
green face. “Hey there little guy,” she laughed. “I know I’ve seen many
critters such as yourself around this pond before, but you look different than
the rest.” The frog merely blinked at the girl. “I’m Melissa by the way,” she
spoke. Extending out a pinkie to the frog, she waited for him to introduce
himself. The frog dipped his head and put his hand on her finger, as if he were
saying hello. “You’re pretty smart for a frog, you know that?” Melissa said.
The frog let out a loud boasting croak, making Melissa laugh. “I like you,” she
said. “You seem like a nice little guy. Why not come live with me inside for a
while? It’s probably nicer than being out in a cold pond at night anyway.” The
frog let out a little nod in return to Melissa’s words. With the sun now
finally set, Melissa jumped up and dashed back to her farmhouse, the frog
closed in her hands.
After
convincing her parents to let their tiny guest stay there for a few days,
Melissa and the frog were inseparable. He sat on her shoulder as she worked during
the day, swam in the pond at sunset while she sat on the shore, she let him sit
next to her at dinner and eat off of her plate, and he would rest on her pillow
at night while she slept. On the third morning of this cycle, Melissa woke up
to see that the little frog was gone. “Where’d you go little guy? Did you fall
off the bed?” Melissa asked in a tone full of worry as she began searching the
sheets and under her bed. “Where did you hope off to?” As Melissa’s anxiety
began to grow, she heard a gentle knock on her bedroom door. Before she could
say a single word, a male voice rang out clearly.
“Open
the door, my farm girl dear; open the door your true love is here. Mind the
words that you told me by the pond on the sunset night three nights ago.”
Melissa stared blankly at the door as she approached it. Twisting the knob and pulling
the wooden slab open, an unexpected visitor stood there. A handsome young boy
with the most beautiful green eyes Melissa had ever seen leaned in the door
way, a smirk worn on his face. He told her that he had been cursed into being a
frog by a spiteful magical creature. “You broke the spell by bringing me into
your home and showing me true hospitality for three days and nights. Now, I
only have one wish. Not your mother’s pearls, not any family jewels or gold. I
want something more precious.”
“What
would that wish be?” Melissa asked, still shocked and in awe about the
situation. The boy took her hands and held them tight. Melissa’s cheeks flushed
crimson as the boy smiled at her and gently kissed her cheek.
“You,”
said the boy, “have broken this cruel charm, and now I have nothing to wish for
but that you should allow me your hand in marriage. We will be wed for as long
as we both live.” Not hesitating on her answer, Melissa took him by the hand
and rushed down the stairs to tell her parents about the news. Although
reluctant at first, the parents respected their daughter’s wish to marry the
boy she had come to love deeply. Melissa’s fiancé was welcomed into the family
almost immediately. He called his parents had told them of his condition; they
both nearly had heart attacks at the news! For the next few years, the boy
lived with Melissa on the farm, tending to their eight horses, plucking the
feathers off of the chickens, and harvesting the crops. At the right age, Melissa
and her handsome love married and lived happily together for many years.
No comments:
Post a Comment