There once was a frog who lived in a village. She lived in a well, deep and cold, but she thought of it as her castle. Here the frog hopped and splashed and croaked loudly in the evening. She was alone, but she was perfectly happy.
She couldn’t understand why the other animals didn’t want to live in the well either. So the frog often taunted them and boasted that no one had a better place to live than she did. The other animals didn’t understand. Would any of them want to live alone in a cold and dark well?
Once a frog mocked a fox like that. The frog decided to show the fox what the world outside the well was like. Let her see how beautiful it is elsewhere. After all, there are so many other places worth seeing than an old well.
“Hello, frog,” called the fox into the well. “They say you have the best castle in the world and are the happiest frog in the world.”
“Of course,” replied the frog, puffing up with pride. “Are you coming to see? You’ll see that nothing compares to my well.”
“Yes, indeed, a fine well. But you should come and see the forest where I live. There are green trees, colourful flowers and lots of animals living happily together. I’m sure you would like it there,” the fox tempted the frog.
But the frog was frightened. She had never stepped foot out of the well; she knew nothing else.
“What if I get lost? Or something will happen to me?” the frog was afraid.
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you and be with you all the time,” promised the fox.
So the frog let the fox persuade her and went with her to the forest. The frog was completely overwhelmed. She saw the beautiful trees, the sun shining through the branches, the leaves, the birds and other animals that lived there. The fox also showed her the stream and the different flowers. The frog couldn’t get a sound out. She was so overwhelmed by the beauty of life in the forest. And she was even more amazed when she heard the laughter of the happy animals frolicking together.
The frog now looked at how happy the animals really were. To this day, she still thought that happiness meant having her own well. But suddenly she realized that friendship, adventure and love meant much more than just one dark and cold well.
When the frog and the fox returned to the well, the frog said thank you.
“Thank you, fox, for opening my eyes and showing me the world. Now I see that it is much bigger than my well. There is so much beauty in it. The experiences I have had today are amazing.”
The fox was glad that the frog had learned her lesson and that she had enjoyed the trip.
The frog returned to her well, but it was not the same as before. She no longer mocked anyone or overly praised her well. Now she often went to the forest to play with the animals and have new adventures. The well was still her home, but now she knew it was not the whole world. Now the frog was truly happy and no longer felt the need to brag about her happiness to anyone. To this day, she still greets the other animals at the well and tells them her story. She wants others to find their happiness, too.
