It was another blustery, beautiful day in the farmland, a day every animal looked forward to with sparkling eyes. It was their grand festival, a day to show off their talents, their beauty, their children. It was their independence day, except here, there were no fireworks; instead, there were symphonies of sparrows singing, giraffes twirling their long necks in the breeze, reindeer prancing, and dolphins leaping in the ponds. The dogs barked in rhythm, the cows swayed, and even Starlon, the gleaming horse, pranced despite the drizzle.
This was a grand feast of joy, a time of awards and cheers, like a heartbeat of the farmland. Everyone gathered, even though Timothy, the councilman, was absent this year. They feasted on abundance food for all, drink for all and you wished these festivities could happen more often, though it was always costly to bring them to life.
But as the sun hid behind thick clouds, something unexpected stirred. Froggy, always quick to leap, noticed the sky darkening. He ran home, fetched a small umbrella, one he’d once stolen from the eastern market and as the first drops fell, the performances faltered.
The crowd paused, huddling beneath trees palms, umbrella trees, every branch they could find to shield themselves. Biggie, the elephant mayor, stood tall, dignified in the rain, and when the murmurs started, he raised his trunk. “Quiet,” he called.
“Froggy, what are you doing?” And Froggy, with a simple, steady gaze, said, “I’m just being kind, Biggie I didn’t want you to get drenched.” And for a moment, the crowd was torn, some laughed, some scolded. But then Biggie’s wife, the First Lady of the farmland, stepped forward, her smile bright despite the drizzle. She saw what others sometimes missed Froggy, even in mischief, was a beacon of care.
As the rain continued, some animals grew ill, and Froggy, despite all odds, vowed he would visit each one. He would tend to them, soothe them, and be their beacon. His wife Froggina, watching him, felt a surge of pride because Froggy, in his impulsive leaps, had once again shown that kindness can spring from even the most unexpected places and that, in every stumble, there is the chance for a leap toward love.
~ Timothy Orikri (excerpt from Froggy—Once Upon a Farmland: A “young-at-heart” novel about restoration, second chances, and a creative, overzealous creature.)
