Bleep-a-freep's family

One day Spotty Spot and Teddy bear were sitting on Spotty Spot's porch talking like friends do. I couldn't tell you what they were talking about, and they probably wouldn't remember either, but that is how it can be with friends - they just liked being together.

As they sat they watched the river flow by, for Spotty Spot's house was situated on a wide river. They saw their friend Bleep-a-freep the Costa Rican frog come swimming out of the water. Bleep-a-freep walked up the tall, sloping bank of the river and right up to the two friends. He said, "Hello Spotty Spot. Hello Teddy Bear. I need your help down at the harbor."

Now, a harbor is a big place full of water where ships live. Teddy Bear had once visited the harbor, and he remembered that ships from far away places would sail into the harbor, stay a few days, and then sail off to new places.

Spotty Spot said, "How can we help you, Bleep-a-freep?"

"Well," said Bleep-a-freep, "today many new ships arrived! There will be frogs stowed away on those ships, and they will not know where to go. They are from far away and might get lost in the town, or even eaten by a cat!"

"I need you to swim down to the harbor and help me welcome them properly." said Bleep-a-freep. "I have special SCUBA gear for you to help you swim under water."

So Teddy Bear and Spotty Spot went to the river's edge, and Bleep-a-freep gave them each a mask, which they put on their face (demonstrate it), and an air tank, which they put on their backs (demonstrate it), and a respirator for their mouths that sounded like this. (make the noise, like Chih-Koo, Chih-Koo )

Then they all swam under the water and let the current push them down steam to the harbor.

In the harbor there were so many boats! Boats of every kind, that people could get on and go where ever they wanted. But frogs were not allowed on the boats. That is why Bleep-a-freep's frog friends were called "Stow Aways", because they were not really allowed to ride the boats.

Spotty Spot asked, "Why are the frogs stowed away?"

Bleep-a-freep said, "In the countries where they live, these frogs are treated very badly. Even though they work hard, and contribute to society, the government does not protect them from cats, or racoons, and many frogs get eaten. They stow away on these boats to try to find a better life in a new country."

Teddy Bear said, "Like our country?"

"Yes," said Bleep-a-freep. "Here is what we need to do."

And Bleep-a-freep showed how to swim up below each boat, and knock on the hull - knock knock knock. When he did this, a little frog peeked over the side of the boat, and when Bleep-a-freep waved the frog jumped in and began to follow. Just like that, this new frog from a far away land was swimming with them, with hope in his heart.

The friends all split up, and each one of them swam up to a boat. Knock knock knock, and another frog from a far away land would hop over the side and join the group.

Soon they had twenty frogs from far away lands following them. Then Bleep-a-freep said, "Now we must bring all of our new friends down to the Frog Kingdom."

Spotty Spot said, "I have never heard of the Frog Kingdom. What is it?"

Bleep-a-freep said, "The Frog Kingdon is a great secret. We never speak of it, and we never take outsiders into it. But you have helped me today, so perhaps you will be welcome."

Then they all swam deep, deep, deep into the water of the harbor. Soon it got dark, because the sunshine could not penetrate the water, and then they saw a little glint in the darkness. Soon they saw another, and another, and then a whole town began to appear.

They swam to the front gate, and the Frog Kingdom mayor greeted them.

"Welcome to the Frog Kingdom," he said to the new frogs from far away lands, and he let them all in the gate. But to Bleep-a-freep he said, "Who are these two non-frogs you have with you? Outsiders may not enter the Frog Kingdom."

Bleep a freep replied, "These are my friends, and they have helped gather all these frogs from far away lands to bring them to safety."

The mayor said, "Very well, they may enter on one condition."

Turning to Teddy Bear he asked, "Do you promise never to speak of the Frog Kingdom to anyone?" and Teddy Bear responded, "Yes, I promise."

Then to Spotty Spot he asked, "Do you promise never to speak of the Frog Kingdom to anyone?" and Spotty Spot responded, "Yes, I promise."

Then they went into the frog kingdom and there was a great celebration. But I can not tell you what they saw, because Teddy Bear and Spotty Spot kept their promise and never spoke of the Frog Kingdom.

And that is how the three friends helped Bleep-a-freep with the frogs from far away lands.

The End
(c) 2007 Ken Demarest