Cheetah (4 page)

Saturday was gray and drizzly.

“I guess we can't go to the drop zone today,” said Mia.

“Good try,” said Mom. “But frogs like it wet.”

The whole family went to the drop zone to say goodbye to Cheetah. Maggie brought Sad Dolly because she was a good crier.

“Don't worry,” Mia whispered to Cheetah. “It will be over soon.”

She didn't say, “Soon you'll be back in your pond.” Mia was hoping for a miracle. Maybe Cheetah wouldn't want to go in the pond. Maybe she would jump right back in her box!

The family walked through the field to the pond. They waited quietly while Mia opened Cheetah's box. Mia picked Cheetah up. She held her nose-to-nose. Then she set her down at the water's edge. Cheetah didn't move. The miracle is happening, thought Mia! Cheetah wants to stay with me!

Then Cheetah took a mighty leap into the water. She was gone. A tear slid down Mia's cheek.

“Want to hold Sad Dolly?” Maggie asked.

Mia shook her head. Then she smiled. A frog was climbing onto the sea serpent log.

“There's Cheetah!” Mia cried.

“She looks happy,” said Mom.

“No wonder,” said Dad. “Look who's with her.”

A big frog hopped along the log and sat beside Cheetah.

“She's going to tell him about her adventure,” said Mia. Maggie tugged on her. “Look at these jelly things, Mia.”

Mia squatted down.

“I think those are frogs' eggs,” Mia said. “I saw pictures of them in Mrs. Rose's book. Those dark spots turn into tadpoles.”

“Maybe Cheetah will lay eggs,” said Mom.

“Yeah!” said Mia. “Maybe that's why she wasn't hungry. She was full of eggs!”

Dad promised to bring the girls back to check on the eggs. Mia couldn't wait to see the tadpoles when they hatched.

Then Maggie spotted more black specks. This time they were in the sky. It had stopped raining. The skydivers were jumping. Mom, Dad and Maggie watched the skydivers float down. But Mia watched Cheetah and her froggy friend. They were watching the sky too.

She imagined what they were saying to each other. A story started to form in her mind. It was a new story about Cheetah. Mia would write it down in her draft book on Monday.

Cheetah and Ribbert

Cheetah and Ribbert lived in a pond at the drop zone.

They liked to sit on a log and watch the skydivers.

“They are having fun,” croaked Cheetah. “I need some fun. I need adventure!”

“We all have dreams,” croaked Ribbert.

A girl came to the pond. Her name was Mia. She was very nice for a human. She took Cheetah on a grand adventure. Cheetah got to see how humans live. She was the star at Mia's school. It was lots of fun. But she missed her home. She missed Ribbert.

She was glad when Mia took her back to the pond. She swam to the log.

“Ribbert, I'm back!” she croaked. “Where are you, my frog prince?”

Ribbert was so happy to see Cheetah.

“Cheetah, you are my dream come true,” he croaked. “Will you be my frog princess and never leave me again?”

“Yes,” croaked Cheetah, “but what if I need another adventure? Will you come with me?”

“Okay, “ croaked Ribbert.

“Hooray!” said Cheetah. “Let's go skydiving!”

Cheetah and Ribbert were the first frogs in the world to jump out of an airplane. They became rich and famous. But they went back to live in the pond.

They told their friends about their adventure. They had many tadpoles. They loved them all. But one was extra special. They called her Mia. Her little sister was nice too. They called her Maggie. And they all lived happily ever after.

The End

Award-winning author Wendy A. Lewis loves the experiences that come to her through her writing, from researching leatherback sea turtles at night on a Costa Rican beach to jumping out of an airplane at thirteen thousand feet. She lives with her family in Uxbridge, Ontario, and has a soft spot for frogs.

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