There once was a Princess, who loved to play alone in the palace gardens, tossing around her favourite beaming golden ball.

 

One day, as she was running around through the lilies and daisies and hedges and roses, she tossed her ball higher in the air than she ever had before.

​

SPLASH!!

​

Her beautiful golden ball had plopped right into a small pond nearby! She ran over to the pond and watched sadly as the golden sphere sank deeper and deeper into the water. The princess began to cry.

​

Suddenly, she heard a strange noise coming from the middle of the pond.

​

Hop! Hop! Hop!

​

The Princess looked up to see a small frog sitting on a lily pad. She scrunched her face up at the sight of the little green creature.

​

“Do you not know how to swim?” it asked.

​

“I do,” she replied, “but I don't want to spoil my beautiful gold dress!“

​

“Well, I suppose I could get it for you...” the frog started.

​

“You can?  Oh!  Please do!  Please do!” she cried.

​

But before he jumped into the water, the frog turned to her and asked:

​

“What will you give me in return for grabbing your golden ball?”

​

“Oh!  You can have anything you desire!” the Princess replied.

​

“What I would like is a friend. That's all. ” the frog said, “A friend to spend time with me, to eat supper with me, to read for me, to sleep beside me, and to kiss me goodnight!”

​

“Anything!  Anything!” the Princess cried.

​

And with that, the small green frog hopped into the water and retrieved the Princess' gold ball.  The minute he handed it over, the girl ran around giggling and tossing her beloved ball up in the air; she had completely forgotten all about the frog.

​

At supper, the girl was seated at the table with her father, the King.  Before either of them could take a bite, there came a small knock at the door. 

​

The King got up and walked to open it and in came the small green frog.

​

Hop! Hop! Hop!

​

“I have come to eat supper with you, Princess!” the frog said happily, hopping up on the table. The Princess gently grabbed the frog and placed him outside the door.

​

SLAM!!

​

She turned on her heel and sat down at her seat once more, ignoring the suspicious look from the king.

​

“And who was that, Princess?” he asked her.

​

“Oh, no one,” she replied.

​

The stern look from her father caused her to go red with embarrassment.  She told him of the promise to the frog.

​

“A promise is a promise, Princess.  We must always keep our promises,” the King said wisely.  With that the girl slowly shuffled over to the door and opened it up.

​

Hop!  Hop!  Hop!

​

The frog ate supper with her, and then followed the Princess into her bedroom where she began to read.

​

She read him a bedtime story and, surprisingly, the frog was quite smart and funny.  She actually enjoyed his company.

​

When it was time to sleep, the frog asked her for a bedtime kiss.  She refused, scrunching her face once more at the sight of the green creature before her.

​

The Princess shut out the light and tried to go to sleep.  Suddenly, she heard the sounds of weeping.  She turned the light back on to see the frog beside her, wiping tears from his eyes.

 

She was hit with a wave of guilt for making the poor frog cry.  She tucked him in bed beside her and kissed him gently.

​

WHOOOSH!!

​

All of a sudden, the small green frog transformed into a handsome young prince right before her eyes; she jumped back from the bed in surprise.

​

Forever after, the Prince and Princess were able to play together in the palace gardens.  The Princess was happier than ever to have a playmate.