GABRIELA YARELIZ

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Alone

Toad went to Frog’s house.  He found a note on the door.  The note said,

“Dear Toad, I am not at home.  I went out.  I want to be alone.”  “Alone?”

said Toad.  “Frog has me for a friend.  Why does he want to be alone?”  Toad

looked through the windows.  He looked in the garden.  He did not see Frog.

Toad went to the woods.  Frog was not there.  He went to the meadow.  Frog

was not there. Toad went down to the river. There was Frog. He was sitting

on an island by himself.  “Poor Frog,” said Toad.  “He must be very sad.  I

will cheer him up.”  Toad ran home.  He made sandwiches.  He made a

pitcher of iced tea. He put everything in a basket. Toad hurried back to the

river.  “Frog,” he shouted, “it’s me.  It’s your best friend, Toad!”  Frog was

too far away to hear. Toad took off his jacket and waved it like a flag. Frog

was too far away to see.  Toad shouted and waved, but it was no use.  Frog

sat on the island.  He did not see or hear Toad.  A turtle swam by.  Toad

climbed on the turtle’s back.  “Turtle,” said Toad, “carry me to the island.

Frog is there.  He wants to be alone.”  “If Frog wants to be alone,” said the

turtle, “why don’t you leave him alone?”  “Maybe you are right,” said Toad.

“Maybe Frog does not want to see me.  Maybe he does not want me to be his

friend anymore.”  “Yes, maybe,” said the turtle as he swam to the island.

“Frog!” cried Toad.  “I am sorry for all the dumb things I do.  I am sorry for

all the silly things I say.  Please be my friend again!”  Toad slipped off the

turtle.  With a splash, he fell in the river.  Frog pulled Toad up onto the island.

Toad looked in the basket.  The sandwiches were wet.  The pitcher of iced tea

was empty.  “Our lunch is spoiled,” said Toad.  “I made it for you, Frog, so

that you would be happy.”  “But Toad,” said Frog.  “I am happy.  I am very

happy.  This morning when I woke up I felt good because the sun was

shining.  I felt good because I was a frog.  And I felt good because I have you

for friend.  I wanted to be alone.  I wanted to think about how fine everything

is.”  “Oh,” said Toad.  “I guess that is a very good reason for wanting to be

alone.”  “Now,” said Frog, “I will be glad not to be alone.  Let’s eat lunch.”

Frog and Toad stayed on the island all afternoon.  They ate wet sandwiches

without iced tea. They were two close friends sitting alone together.

Lobel, Arnold. Days with Frog and Toad. New York: Harper Collins, 1979.