Once there were a frog and a centipede. Frog said to Centipede, ”Oooh! I like the way you shine. Where did you get that shiny skin?”
”Well, Little Frog, I will tell you. Once upon a time I told my mother to take a pot and in that pot to put some oil and make that oil to boil.”
”Oh! And then you jumped in!”
“N-no. I did not say that Little Frog. I will start again. Once upon a time I told my mother to take a pot and in that pot to put some oil and make that oil to boil.”
”Ah! And then you jumped in!”
”Hey! Whose story is this anyway? I’m going to start again. Once upon a time I told my mother to take a pot and in that pot to put some oil and make that oil to boil.”
”Aha! And then you jumped in!”
”Little Frog, you are making this a long, long story. I am going to start again. Once upon a time I told my mother to take a pot and in that pot to put some oil and make that oil to boil.”
”And then you jumped in!”
“All right Little Frog. Because you think you can tell this story better than I, you go ahead and tell this story any way you want to. I do not care. I am going home. Good-bye.”
Centipede went away on all her legs, legs, legs, legs, legs, legs, legs.
Little Frog went home too. And when he got there he said to his mother, “Ooooh, Mama! I want you to do something for me very badly.”
“What is it Little Frog?”
“Would you take a pot and in that pot, put some oil and make that oil to boil?”
She loved her Little Frog very much and would do anything for him. So she took a pot and in that pot she put some oil and she made that oil to boil. And I bet you can guess what that stupid Little Frog did? Yes, indeed. He jumped into the boiling oil and he became burned and scarred and ugly. And even to this day, the frogs are still so ugly.
Now each time you look upon a frog, you become a witness to Little Frog’s impatience.
Originally told to Susan Klein by Dr. Charles Rwakatare. Adapted, told, and recorded with his permission and blessing.
Susan Klein is leading a workshop Nov. 30 - Dec. 2. Click for more details.
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