Jenny the Frog: A Tale of Love and Listening

Once upon a time, there was a little frog called Jenny. She was a happy-go-lucky sort of a frog and loved nothing more than spending the long hot summer days jumping about by the pond. Jenny was a very gobby frog, and she loved talking to anyone who would listen. She could chatter away all day long without stopping for a breath. One fine morning, Jenny was hopping around the pond, trying to think of something interesting to say when she spotted a handsome frog called Neuri. Neuri was just passing by, and as soon as Jenny saw him, she knew she must talk to him. "Hey there, handsome," said Jenny, "what are you doing today?" Neuri looked a little taken aback. "Um, just passing through," he replied. "What's your name?" "I'm Jenny," said Jenny, "and I love to chat. Why don't you sit down and tell me more about yourself?" Neuri wasn't sure what to make of Jenny. She was pretty, but she was also very gobby. Nevertheless, he agreed to stay and chat for a while. The two frogs talked for hours, and Jenny loved every moment of it. She told Neuri all about her life at the pond, and he shared his own stories too. Jenny felt sure she had found her perfect match, and she dreamed of spending the rest of her life with Neuri. But then something strange happened. Neuri began to get quieter and quieter. Jenny started to worry that she had talked him to death! Just when she thought she might have lost him forever, Neuri spoke. "Jenny," he said, "you're a lovely frog, but I must confess that I am in love with someone else." Jenny was devastated. She had never been rejected before, and she didn't know what to do. But then she remembered something her mother had told her when she was just a tiny tadpole: "True love will set you free." Jenny realised that Neuri was not the one for her after all. She had been so caught up in her own chatter that she hadn't stopped to listen to what he was saying. She wished him well and hopped away, feeling wiser and more determined than ever to find her true love. From that day on, Jenny talked a little less and listened a little more. And before long, she found a frog who shared her passion for chatting, but who also loved to listen. They lived happily ever after, and Jenny knew that the moral of the story was a good one: Gobby frogs might be fun to be around, but it's the ones who listen who make the best friends.