The Frog Who Wore a Crown

Once upon a time, in a pond filled with lily pads, lived a frog named Ferdinand. But Ferdinand didn't think he was just any frog. Oh no, Ferdinand believed he was a prince trapped in a frog's body. He even wore a tiny, sparkly crown he'd found near the pond.

Every day, Ferdinand would sit on the largest lily pad, his crown gleaming in the sun. "Surely," he'd say to the dragonflies buzzing by, "someone will recognize my royal blood!" He’d practice his regal wave, hoping a princess would see him and break the spell.

The other frogs chuckled. "Ferdinand," they'd croak, "you're a frog! A funny frog with a crown, but still just a frog!"

Ferdinand ignored them. He was convinced a grand destiny awaited him. He spent his days ordering the tadpoles around (who mostly ignored him), demanding the juiciest flies, and instructing the lily pads to arrange themselves in a more pleasing manner.

One day, a little girl came to the pond. She giggled when she saw Ferdinand. "Look, Mama! A frog wearing a crown!"

Ferdinand puffed out his chest. "At last!" he thought. "Someone who recognizes my true station!"

The little girl reached out and gently picked him up. "He's so cute!" she exclaimed. Then, she took off the crown and said, "But the crown is prettier on me."

Ferdinand was crushed. She didn’t recognize him as royalty. She liked his crown and was keeping it! The little girl placed Ferdinand back on his lily pad, now without his crown, and skipped away.

Ferdinand sat there, feeling very un-princely. He looked at his reflection in the water. Just a frog. A plain, green frog. No crown. No royal blood recognized.

Slowly, a smile crept across his face. Being a prince sounded exhausting! All that ruling and waving and ordering things around. Maybe, just maybe, being a frog wasn't so bad after all. He hopped into the water and caught a particularly juicy fly. Perhaps tomorrow, he'd try swimming without giving orders to the water.