The Frog Princess Read Online Free PDF Page A

log, and thought about all that had happened that day. In the excitement of my escape from the dog and the discovery of my newfound abilities, I hadn't really thought about what I would do next. I was alone in the swamp with no one to turn to. What was I going to do?
    Distraught, I hunched down and began to cry. I hated crying and almost never did. My mother had told me many times that a princess should never cry in public, but I knew that sometimes a person just couldn't help it. Large tears rolled down my cheeks and plopped onto the rough bark of the log. I was so miserable that I didn't notice Frog climb up beside me.

Five
    "W hat's wrong?" Frog asked. He had to ask me twice before the question pierced my bubble of misery.
    "Oh," I said, peering at him through tear-filled eyes. "It's you."
    "I'm glad you're so thrilled to see me," Frog said. "But you still haven't answered my question. What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
    "Isn't it obvious?" I asked. "I'm a frog and it's your fault! This wasn't supposed to happen. You said you would turn back into a prince. You never said I could turn into a frog!"
    "What do I look like, a gypsy fortune-teller? No one ever told me this might happen. I'm sorry. I can't imagine why it did. But it's not so bad, you know. Being a frog, that is. I've been a frog for quite a while. It really does have its advantages."
    "Oh?" I sniffled. "Like what?"
    Frog shrugged. "You won't have to marry Jorge, for one. Life is less complicated as a frog. Why, I can do whatever I want to, like stay up all night or sleep all day. I don't have all the responsibilities or the worries that I used to have, either. You can't imagine how much of a relief it is not to be asked to slay a dragon or behead an ogre or shut down the troll extortion rings under the bridges, although I must admit that I was very good at all three. Now I only have to worry about finding enough food and being eaten."
    "Those sound like pretty serious worries to me," I said.
    "Not if you keep your wits about you and pay attention to what's going on. Which is something you need to learn to do."
    "I guess I have been a little preoccupied."
    "Do you think so? Come on! A dozen dragons could have landed here and toasted you for lunch and you wouldn't have noticed. You're lucky that I'm the one who climbed onto this log! But don't worry. I got you into this, so I'll teach you what you need to know."
    "You don't have to teach me anything! Just undo whatever you did and turn me back into a princess!"
    "I wish I could," said Frog. "Except I have no idea how to do it."
    "Then you'll have to help me find out! I may not have been the happiest princess, but I don't want to spend the rest of my life as a frog! I can't believe this happened! At first I thought it was all a dream, but ... Say, where did you go, anyway? I didn't see you around when that dog came."
    Frog shrugged his smooth green shoulders. "When you kissed me and I didn't become my handsome, princely self again, I admit I was a little upset. It took a while before I noticed that you weren't around anymore, at least as a human. By the time I realized what must have happened, that dog was there and you were hopping around like a lunatic. You disappeared, but it was easy to find you since everyone in the swamp was gossiping about the crazy talking female frog who couldn't swim any better than a newly hatched tadpole."
    "I thought I swam quite well!" I said, remembering my pride in my newly learned skill.
    "Maybe for a rank beginner."
    I couldn't help it. My lip began to quiver.
    "Don't do that!" he said. "This is fresh water and you're going to make it salty!"
    Two big tears rolled down my cheeks. I sniffled louder.
    "Now what's wrong?" Frog asked impatiently.
    "Everything!" I wailed. "I've been trying so hard and I thought I was a good swimmer and now you tell me that I'm not and I'm a frog and I don't want to be and I'm scared and now on top of everything else I'm hungry!"
    "Maybe if you kissed