Party at the Pond (2 page)

“It is no big thing. I can do it because I am a chameleon,” Chameleon said. “I cannot do the tricks you do.”

“We are glad you came,” Rabbit said.

“Even if you could not do that special trick.

We like you. You are nice.”

Chameleon smiled his biggest smile of all. “I like you, too.”

Raccoon nodded. “I always say that it is good to make new friends.”

“You did not say that,” Rabbit told her.

“I say it now,” Raccoon said.

“Shall we ask little Jumping Mouse to our party next fall?” Frog asked.

“Yes!” they all shouted.

And then they lay on their bellies around the pond.

They made leaf boats from their hats and played boat races till it was time to go home.

Frog was not a very good dancer.

He liked to dance at night. When there was no one to see.

He danced when he was happy.

“Tra-la-la-la-la.”

He danced when he was sad. Dancing made him happy again.

He danced when it was wet and rain dripped from the trees. “Spitter, spatter, splash. Lovely!”

Frog danced to the moon and the stars and his shadow danced with him all the way to sunrise.

One night he saw Rabbit watching him.

“Oh no!” Frog was embarrassed. He hopped into his pond and dived deep.

Rabbit came to the edge of the still, dark water. “Frog, Frog, come and dance.

When I am sad I watch you dance. Your dancing makes me happy again.”

“Garrump, garrump!”
Frog said, diving deeper.

“Frog, Frog, come and dance,” Raccoon called. “When I am happy I watch you dance. Your dancing makes me even happier.

Tra-la-la-la-la.”

“When it is raining I come and watch you dance,” Squirrel said. “Spitter, spatter, splash. Lovely!”

“And 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.”

“No matter. Your dancing is filled with joy so it fills us with joy.”

“Really?” Frog came out of the pond.

“Maybe you should dance, too. Doing is always better than watching. Come dance with me, everyone.”

“We are not very good dancers,” everyone said.

“No matter,” Frog told them.

They danced to the moon and the stars all the way to sunrise.

And the night around them danced, too.

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.