Frog and Toad jumped into the water. They swam all afternoon. Frog swam fast and made big splashes. Toad swam slowly and made smaller splashes.

“Frog,” said Toad, “I can’t see anything. I will not be able to wear your beautiful present. This is a sad birthday for me.”

“I am happy. I am very happy. This morning when I woke up I felt good because the sun was shining. I felt good because I was a frog. And I felt good because I have you as a friend. I wanted to be alone. I wanted to think about how fine everything is.”

“Frog!” cried Toad. “I am sorry for all the dumb things I do. I am sorry for all the silly things that I say. Please be my friend again!”

“When I was small, not much bigger than a pollywog,” said Frog, “my father said to me, “Son, this is a cold, gray day but spring is just around the corner.”

Toad hurried back to the river. “Frog,” he shouted, “it’s me. It’s your best friend, Toad!”

“At last,” shouted Toad, “my seeds have stopped being afraid to grow!” “And now you will have a nice garden too,” said Frog. “Yes,” said Toad, “but you were right, Frog. It was very hard work.”

“Frog, tell that turtle to go away,” said Toad. “I do not want him to see me in my bathing suit when I come out of the river.”

Toad hurried to the river. “Frog,” he shouted, “it’s me. It’s your best friend, Toad!” Frog was too far away to hear.

Frog closed his eyes when Toad came out from behind the rocks

“Today you look very green even for a frog,” said Toad. “Get into my bed and rest.”

He scrubbed his windows.

Then Frog and Toad went out onto the front porch to wait for the mail.

Toad opened his present from Frog. It was a beautiful new clock. The two friends sat by the fire. The hands of the clock moved to show the hours of a merry Christmas Eve.

Then Frog said, “Toad, here is what you must do. Tonight when you go to bed, you must think some very big thoughts. Those big thoughts will make your head grow larger. In the morning your new hat may fit.” “What a good idea,” said Toad.

A snake crawled out of the grass. “If Toad looks funny in his bathing suit,” said the snake, “then I, for one, want to see him.”

Frog drank the tea, and then he said, “Tell me a story while I am resting.”

“It’s an avalanche!” cried Toad. Frog and Toad jumped away. Frog was trembling. “I am not afraid!” he shouted.

Toad got to Frog’s house. He looked in the window. “Good,” said Toad. “Frog is not home. He will never guess who raked his leaves.”

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

The two friends sat by the fire. The hands of the clock moved to show the hours of a merry Christmas Eve.

“If Frog wants to be alone,” said the Turtle, “why don’t you leave him alone?” “Maybe you are right,” said Toad. “Maybe Frog does not want to see me. Maybe he does not want me to be his friend anymore.”

Toad opened the front door. He looked out into the night. Frog was not there.

“What is will power?” asked Toad. “Will power is trying hard NOT to do something that you really want to do,” said Frog.

Toad read a long story to his seeds.

Toad opened the door once more. Frog was not on the path.

Toad went back to bed. He pulled the covers over his head and fell asleep.

Frog came into Toad’s house. He came in quietly. Frog found the hat and took it to his house.

“Now we have no more cookies to eat,” said Toad sadly. “Not even one.” “Yes,” said Frog, “but we have lots and lots of will power.” “You may keep it all, Frog,” said Toad. “I am going home now to bake a cake.”