THE FROGS IN THE CREAM

Taken from: www.edu.gva.es/epc5p/efc/pdf/B1A4.1.pdf

Some time ago, I read this nice short story in a Spanish version. Fortunately, I could find an English version to share with you. Hope you like it!

Once upon a time, there were two frogs that fell into a vat of cream. Immediately, they realized they were going to drown for it was impossible to swim or float for very long in the thick, bog-like liquid. For a while, the two frogs kicked around in the cream, trying to reach the edge of the vat. But it was useless; they only managed to splash about in the same place and sink even deeper.

One of the frogs said: “I can’t take it anymore. It’s impossible to get out of here. I can’t swim in this stuff. And, as I’m going to die, I can’t see the point in drawing out my suffering. It doesn’t make sense dying exhausted after this pointless struggle.” Having said this, he stopped kicking and drowned, quickly swallowed up by the thick, white liquid.

The other frog, who was more persistent, or perhaps more stubborn, said: “It’s impossible! I can’t do anything to get out of this. Nevertheless, although death is drawing near, I’d rather fight until my last breath than give up. I don’t want to die one second before my time.”

So, for hours and hours he carried on kicking and splashing, always in the same spot, not moving one centimeter from where he started. And suddenly, after so much kicking, beating, and stirring, the cream turned into butter.

Surprised, the frog jumped up, and skidding along the newly hardened surface, he reached the edge of the vat. From there he hopped home, croaking happily.

I like this story because it teaches us a moral lesson. In my opinion, the vat of cream represents some problem that we could have in our life. It´s up to us to decide what to do in an extreme situation like that of the frogs: we can choose whether to give up, or on the contrary, to continue steadily and with determination in spite of difficulties. It doesn´t matter the adversities, what is important is to never lose your hope! In conclusion, if you persevere, you´ll succeed in the end.

Buterfly