Shivers

The night was cold and dark. “Listen to the wind howling in the trees, ” said Frog.“What a fine time for a ghost story.” Toad moved deeper into his chair. “Toad, ”asked Frog, “don't you like to be scared? Don't you like to feel the shivers? ” “I am not too sure, ” said Toad.

Frog made a fresh pot of tea. He sat down and began a story. “When I was small, ” said Frog, “my mother and father and I went out for a picnic. On the way home we lost our way. My mother was worried. ‘We must get home, ' she said.‘We do not want to meet the Old Dark Frog.' ‘Who is that? ' I asked. ‘A terrible ghost, ' said my father. ‘He comes out at night and eats little frog children for supper.'”

Toad sipped his tea. “Frog, ” he asked,“are you making this up? ” “Maybe yes and maybe no, ” said Frog.

“My mother and father went to search for a path, ” said Frog. “They told me to wait until they came back. I sat under a tree and waited. The woods became dark. I was afraid. Then I saw two huge eyes. It was the Old Dark Frog.

“Frog, ” asked Toad, “did this really happen? ” “Maybe it did and maybe it didn't, ” said Frog.

Frog went on with the story. “The Dark Frog pulled a jump rope out of his pocket. ‘I am not hungry now, ' said the Dark Frog. ‘I have eaten too many tasty frog children. But after I jump rope one hundred times, I will be hungry again. Then I will eat YOU! '”

“The Dark Frog tied one end of the rope to a tree. ‘Turn for me! ' he shouted. I turned the rope for the Dark Frog. He jumped twenty times. ‘I am beginning to get hungry, ' said the Dark Frog. He jumped fifty times. ‘I am getting hungrier, ' said the Dark Frog. He jumped ninety times. ‘I am very hungry now! ' said the Dark Frog.”

“What happened then? ” asked Toad.“I had to save my life, ” said Frog. “I ran around and around the tree with the rope. I tied up the Old Dark Frog. He roared and screamed. I ran away fast.”

“I found my mother and father, ” said Frog. “We came safely home.”

“Frog, ” asked Toad, “was that a true story? ” “Maybe it was and maybe it wasn't, ” said Frog. Frog and Toad sat close by the fire. They were scared. The teacups shook in their hands. They were having the shivers. It was a good, warm feeling.