FAIRYTALE: The Frog and The Ant

APERO FUBLIC.- There was once a pretty little frog. Who lived on a small round lake, near a big town. One day, she wanted to go shopping. dear oh dear, I've no oil for my lamp. I must buy some today.

"She hopped out of her small. neat home and went down the road. on the way, she passed an ant hill. the ants were very busy. the cold weather was coming on, they were dragging food into their home.

"Good morning, said the frog. the ants stared at her. they were not strangers. they weren't a bit friendly. before she could get out of their way. they had climbed all over her. hundreds of them. they jumped on her and bit her. Ouch! please stop it, you're hurting me.

"But they were cruel and would not stop. rivet! rivet! croaked the frog unhappily. her cheeks puffed and became red and her stomach began to swell. she twisted this way and that way. she shook most of them off her back.

"You're very unkind. I only wanted to be friends, said the frog. then the ants became ashamed of themselves. they agreed to be friends.

"Dear Aunty, please be our guest, help yourself to whatever food we have. They said the frog was very pleased. she had never been so happy in " her life " dear Aunty, we something hear you. singing when we're working. won't you sing for us now?

"Asked the queen ant. the frog turned red. she did not know that she had such a loud voice.

"As she sang the and hummed with her. they loved to sing but had poor voices, so they invited her to stay the night on Anthill. early next morning she woke up. the sun was high in the sky. She saw only a few ants and they were busy washing up after last night's party. the others are in the woods gathering food. they told her.

"That afternoon when the queen ant returned home. she spoke to her. you've been so kind to me. I'd like to invite you to my home by the lake. said the frog shyly.

"That's very kind of you. but I can't feast on my own. the others will have to come too. said the queen ant. the frog invited them all to come. the ants were pleased. isn't often they had, a chance to feast twice in a week. on the way, they passed many other ant-hills.

"We're off to visit the frog, they told their friends.

"We'll come too.

Finally, they come to her home. here it is. said the frog and turned round. the shore was covered with thousands of red. black and brown ants. there was not a blade of grass to be seen. the frog's eyes bulged and almost popped out of her head. Rivet! rivet! she croaked worriedly. 

"What was she to do? She only had a few cabbage leaves with which to feed the ants. it wasn't enough. please wait here and I'll get everything ready. said the frog, disappearing into her home.

"The ants waited patiently outside. I'm sure she's preparing a lovely feast. said the queen ant. they waited a whole day and still, there was no sign of the frog.

Perhaps she ill, said the ants worriedly. they had grown to love the pretty little frog. then the queen ant knocked on the door. there was no reply. She pushed to door open but there was nobody at home. the back door was wide open. the frog had disappeared.

The ants were very angry. well, that should teach us a good lesson. we could die just waiting for the frog to give us a treat. the queen ant was sad that the frog had not kept her promise. She tightened her belt around her empty belly and went home. all the other ants did the same. ever since then, ants have had their belts tightened over their bellies and all frogs have had large, bulging eyes.

Oleh: Irene–Anne Monteiro

Sumber: Irene–Anne Monteiro. Favourite Stories from Central Asia. Bandung: PT. Remaja Rosdakarya, 2000.

Sy. Apero Fublic