THE FROG PRINCE

 

Once upon a time, in a castle nestled in a distant land, there lived a very spoiled Princess. She woke up one morning with a gleam of greed in her eye.

"Daddy," she said with a pout, "I want a golden ball."

The King, who adored his daughter beyond measure, replied, "Of course, my dear. Anything for you!"

Summoning his head goldsman, the King commanded, "Melt down our finest golden statue to fashion a ball for the Princess, at once!"

"Yes, Your Majesty," the head goldsman replied promptly.

Soon, a dazzling golden ball was presented to the Princess. She snatched it eagerly and rushed out to the garden. But in her haste, she stumbled and the ball slipped from her grasp, soaring high into the air before plopping into the middle of the garden pond with a splash.

"Oh, bother," muttered the Princess in dismay.

Unexpectedly, a voice spoke up from the pond, "Ribbit, ribbit! I can help."

The Princess looked around in surprise to find a little green frog gazing up at her.

"A talking frog?" she mused aloud, skepticism flickering across her face.

"Ribbit, indeed," the frog continued cheerfully.

"You can talk!" exclaimed the Princess, astonished.

"Sure can. But if I fetch your ball, you must promise me a kiss in return," said the frog.

"A kiss?" the Princess wrinkled her nose in distaste. "Kissing a frog? That's gross! No way!"

"Your choice," shrugged the frog, settling back on his lily pad.

The Princess spent the next half-hour fruitlessly attempting to retrieve the ball. Finally, with a sigh of defeat, she relented, "Fine, frog. My golden ball for one yucky froggy kiss."

"Ribbit!" the frog agreed, and with a quick dive, he retrieved the ball from the pond.

"Now, for my kiss," insisted the frog.

The Princess hastily grabbed the ball and fled towards the castle.

However, unbeknownst to her, the King had overheard their conversation.

"And where are you off to, young lady?" the King's voice boomed from behind her.

"Daddy!" the Princess protested, caught off guard.

"You made a promise to the frog," reminded the King gently. "And promises must be kept."

"But Daddy," the Princess protested, "he's slimy and green and... icky!"

"A promise is a promise," the King reiterated firmly.

Reluctantly, the Princess returned to the pond where the frog awaited on his lily pad.

Grumbling, she leaned down and placed a quick, disdainful kiss on the frog's lips.

Instantly, there was a brilliant flash of light! When the Princess blinked away the dazzle, she found herself staring at a handsome Prince.

"Goodness gracious!" gasped the Princess, astonished. "I didn't expect that!"

The Prince smiled warmly and explained how a wicked witch had cursed him long ago, transforming him into a frog. Only a kiss from a true Princess could break the spell.

"Oh, Prince," the Princess exclaimed apologetically, "I'm sorry for being so horrid to you earlier."

"My dear," said the King, joining them, "it matters not whether he was a Prince or a frog. One should treat all creatures with kindness."

From that day onward, the Princess changed her ways and was kind to everyone she met. She and the Prince became inseparable friends, often strolling by the pond where they had first met. The Princess would laugh heartily whenever the Prince jokingly croaked, "Ribbit, ribbit!"