The Pequén and the Toad

The Pequén and the Toad

One warm day, a little Toad sat beside the water, warming herself in the sun. Her back was pleasantly warm, her legs were stretched out, and she was in no hurry to return to the cool pond.

Everything around her was quiet. Insects buzzed above the grass, and reeds rustled nearby.

But high in the sky, a pequén bird was circling.

He spotted the Toad below and thought, “There is a fine meal!”

The Pequén folded his wings and swooped down. He landed so close that the Toad could not reach the water in a single jump.

At once she knew that she was in serious trouble.

But instead of fussing, she sat up straight, bowed politely, and said, “Good day, Mr Pequén! How is your health? And how are your officers and soldiers?”

The Pequén blinked in surprise.

“My… who?”

“Your officers and soldiers, of course,” said the Toad calmly. “For such an important bird as you must surely be at least a general.”

The Pequén seemed to grow a little taller in his own eyes.

“What a well-mannered Toad,” he thought. “And how well she understands important birds!”

Aloud he said, “Well… yes, things are going quite well.”

The Toad studied him carefully.

“Although, now that I think of it, perhaps I was mistaken.”

The Pequén became alert.

“Mistaken?”

“Indeed. Perhaps you are not a general.”

The Pequén frowned.

“Then what am I?”

“Perhaps you are the president of all the birds in these parts!” the Toad declared. “Your bearing is truly most impressive.”

The Pequén spread his wings with satisfaction.

“Hmm. That sounds more like the truth.”

Meanwhile, the Toad watched the water from the corner of her eye. It was very near. One good jump would carry her to safety, but the Pequén did not take his eyes from her.

She needed to gain a little more time.

“Mr General… or perhaps Mr President,” the Toad went on gently, “I have one small request.”

“What request?”

“Do not eat me today.”

The Pequén tipped his head.

“And why should I not?”

“Would a personage as grand as you really wish to spend time on one little Toad? There is plenty of other food about. Besides, I am very thin after my morning swim.”

The Pequén thought it over.

He did enjoy being called an important person. But he was hungry.

“I do not know,” he said. “Perhaps I will let you go. Perhaps I will not.”

The Toad nodded as solemnly as if he had just made a very wise announcement.

“Of course. Such an important matter cannot be decided in haste.”

The Pequén grew prouder still.

And at that very moment, he yawned.

For one brief instant, his eyes closed.

The Toad had been waiting for exactly that.

Splash!

She leapt into the water so quickly that the Pequén heard only the sound of her landing.

When he opened his eyes, the place before him was empty.

“Hey!” he cried.

From the water, the Toad’s round eyes were already peeking up.

“Thank you for the conversation, Mr General!” she called merrily.

The Pequén was annoyed.

“What a trickster!”

The Toad swam a little farther from the shore and said, “When your legs are weaker than another creature’s wings, you must learn to think faster!”

The Pequén stood by the water a little longer, then sighed and flew away to find another meal.

The Toad climbed back onto a sunny stone, though this time she chose one closer to the water.

From then on, she remembered two things well: it is best to notice danger early, and politeness with a quick mind can sometimes open a way to safety when there seems to be none.

May this story leave a little light in your heart ✨