Читать книгу Frog and Toad / Квак и Жаб. 3-4 классы - Арнольд Лобел - Страница 3

One day in summer Frog was ill.

Toad said, “Frog, you look green.”

“But I always look green,” said Frog. “I am a frog.”

“Today you look very green even for a frog,” said Toad. “Get into bed and rest.”

Toad made Frog a cup of hot tea. Frog drank the tea, and then he said, “Tell me a story while I am in bed.”

“OK,” said Toad. “Let me think of a story to tell you.”

Toad thought and thought. But he could not think of a story to tell Frog.

“I will go out and walk a little,” said Toad. “Maybe that will help me to think of a story.”

Toad walked for a long time. But he could not think of a story to tell Frog. Then Toad went into the house and stood on his head.

“Why are you standing on your head?” asked Frog.

“I think that if I stand on my head, it will help me to think of a story,” said Toad.

Toad stood on his head for a long time. But he could not think of a story to tell Frog. Then Toad poured water over his head.

“Why are you pouring water over your head?” asked Frog.

“I hope that if I pour water over my head, it will help me to think of a story,” said Toad.

Toad poured a lot of water over his head. But he could not think of a story to tell Frog. Then Toad began to bang his head against the wall.

“Why are you banging your head against the wall?” asked Frog.

“I hope that if I bang my head against the wall hard enough, it will help me to think of a story,” said Toad.

“I feel much better now, Toad,” said Frog. “I do not think I need a story anymore.”

“Then you get out of bed and now I will get into it,” said Toad, “because now I feel terrible.”

Frog said, “Would you like me to tell you a story, Toad?”

“Yes,” said Toad, “if you know one.”

“Once upon a time,” said Frog, “there were two good friends, a frog and a toad. The frog was ill. He asked his friend the toad to tell him a story. The toad could not think of a story. He walked around, but he could not think of a story. He stood on his head, but he could not think of a story. He poured water over his head, but he could not think of a story. He banged his head against the wall, but he could not think of a story. Then the toad felt terrible, and the frog felt better. So the toad went to bed and the frog got up and told him a story. The end. How was that, Toad?” said Frog.

But Toad did not answer. He was asleep.