The Best Summer Ever by Eve Bunting, Josée Masse

Frog and Little Brown Bat

    Sometimes at night Little Brown Bat swooped down to visit Frog.
    Sometimes they talked about how different they were.
    It was a game they liked to play.

    â€œI swim and you do not,” Frog said, not unkindly.

    â€œI fly and you do not,” Little Brown Bat said.

    Frog nodded. “But I am a good leaper. Sometimes leaping feels like flying.”
    â€œI can understand that,” Little Brown Bat said. “But I think it is prettier way up high in the night sky.”
    Frog sighed. “It may be. I cannot have everything.”

    â€œLet’s go on with the game,” Little Brown Bat said. “I am furry and you are not.” She stroked her furry body with her leathery wings. “But I like your skin. It is so shiny. And it is such a pretty color.”

    â€œThank you,” Frog said. “I like your ears. I do not have ears.”
    â€œBut you can hear,” Little Brown Bat said.
    â€œNot as well as you,” Frog said. “But I do have excellent eyes. See how bulgy they are? I can see this way and that way without turning my head.”

    â€œThat is such a good thing. My eyes are not great. But I have a gift. I can hear echoes that tell me where I am. So I do not bump into trees.”
    â€œOr stars,” Frog suggested.
    They thought for awhile.
    â€œWe both love bugs. I catch them as I fly,” Little Brown Bat said.

    â€œI lie on my lily pad. I catch them on my long sticky tongue.” Frog flicked out his tongue to show her.
    â€œThat is a very handsome tongue,” Little Brown Bat said.
    They stayed, talking in the soft, warm dark.
    Little Brown Bat swung by her legs from the oak tree branch. Frog sat on the stone by his pond.
    â€œSome people say I am ugly,” Little Brown Bat said.
    Frog shook his head. “You are not. You are dark and lovely. Some also say I am ugly. But once a girl wanted to kiss me.”
    â€œI am not surprised,” Little Brown Bat said. “You have a very nice face.”

    They were quiet together.
    â€œI like the night,” Frog said. “I like the moon and the shadows.”
    â€œI do, too.”
    â€œMost nights I dance,” Frog said. “Dancing makes me happy.”
    â€œI dance, too,” Little Brown Bat said. “I dance with the clouds.”

    â€œWe are the same and not the same,” she said.
    â€œWe do not have to be the same to be friends,” Frog said. “And that is very good. I have Rabbit, and Raccoon, and Possum, and Chameleon, and Jumping Mouse, and Squirrel. And you. Hippo is also a part-time friend.”
    â€œI am glad we are friends.”
    â€œI am, too.”

    Little Brown Bat wafted her wings. Frog felt the lift of wind. She was leaving.
    â€œNow I must fly,” Little Brown Bat said. “But I will be back soon.”
    â€œGoodbye,” Frog said. “Au revoir.”
    Sometimes he liked to speak French.

Frog Takes a Vacation

    â€œI am going on a vacation,” Frog told Raccoon.
    â€œWhy?” Raccoon asked.
    â€œI think I need a change,” Frog said.
    â€œOK. I will go with you,” Raccoon said. “It may be cold there. You will need me to tie on your scarf.”
    â€œThank you,” Frog said. “That will be nice.”
    He did not tell Raccoon that he wanted to be alone. That he wanted quiet. And thinking time.
    â€œIs it true you are going on vacation?” Squirrel asked Frog.
    â€œYes. I think I need a change.”
    â€œWhere are you going?” Squirrel asked.
    â€œI do not know yet.”
    â€œThere is a lovely place I spotted from the top of an elm tree. It has a pond and trees, and berry bushes and grass and reeds.”

    â€œDoes it have a napping rock?” Frog asked.
    â€œYes. A fine, flat one. I will come with you. I can show you.” Squirrel said.

    â€œThat will be nice.” Frog began to see that being alone and thinking was not going to