Marinette, Adrien, and Jane saw a large group of toads today. An old man appeared and explained that he had been trying to guide the toads toward the pond but had gotten his directions mixed up. Marinette offered to help him, and Adrien was impressed by her kindness. With her assistance, the man soon guided the toads, in the direction, of the pond, and the creatures happily hopped along the lily pads. The old man came from the far north and brought the toads here because most of the waters up north had dried up.

   "Oh, well, that sure explains it then," Jane said impressed by the old man's story.

    "Yes, I do, believe it does, Jane," Marinette replied.

"He is a puzzling old man," Adrien remarked. "Shh, Adrien, you must not say such things about your elders," Marinette reprimanded him for his remark. She did not think it was too good of him. Adrien frowned. He apologized immediately to the older man who smiled. Then, he left almost as quickly as he had appeared before them.

       "Have you ever seen so many toads?" Jane asked. "No, I have not seen as many as this day," Marinette added. "Nor have I," Adrien stated.

          The trio of friends agreed it was a good thing, the man had come along when he did or else they might have misunderstood the appearance of the toads at once. They smiled and each one thought how splendid it was that the creatures had a new home. They felt a bit, of sympathy toward the toads who had lost their homes recently.

        Well, those toads did not keep quiet. They were the most noisy creatures they had ever dealt with. On the fourth night, Marinette spoke up, shall we see if we can find the old man and make him take the toads away?"  Adrien nodded his head in agreement, one toad was one thing, but this was one too many. Jane smiled, she was glad the others were in agreement that the toads must go at once.

         A few toads hopped away as if insulted that Marinette and her friends dared to be rid of them and the others remained in the small pond which was more like a stream. A few days later, the man returned and moved the toads further upstream as he put it. The others cheered after he left, the toads were gone at last. 

        They slept better than they had in days. Each was grateful the creatures no longer remained in the stream's waters.  

       The next day, still no toads. Yes, they were truly gone then, and it was not only a dream. Thank goodness, for that then. 

        Find out more in chapter 17 

      Until then,

bye-bye,

little owlets!

Summer out!