The Shallow Frog Prince

I was reading "The Frog Prince" story to Ethel a few days ago when it struck me that the story is so shallow and that I should stop reading it.

Anyway, in case some of you who have never heard of the story (what happened to your childhood?!), here's the summary of "The (Shallow) Frog Prince".

There was a beautiful princess who dropped her golden ball into a pond while playing with it one day. She sobbed over the lost of her ball when suddenly, a frog popped up and struck her a deal. It would retrieve the ball for her provided that she would allow it to eat, play and sleep with her. The princess promised though she had no intention of keeping her promise. The frog managed to retrieve the ball but to its dismay, the princess ignored the frog and ran back to the castle. In the evening during dinner, the frog appeared at the castle. Under her father's pressure, the princess condoned the frog to eat from her plate. She kept crying and was very ungracious over the whole thing. In the end, when she dropped the frog onto her bed (also part of the deal), the frog turned into a handsome young prince. They fell in love and lived happily ever after.

WHAT A SHALLOW STORY!! What was the author propagating?? That one should focus on looks to have a happy marriage??! When the prince was a frog, he was exposed to the ugly side of the princess. She went back on her promise and found him ugly. When he turned into a prince, she IMMEDIATELY fell for him! What a superficial bitch. Wonder why the prince still wants her to be his wife?? Oh I forgot. The princess is beautiful, remember?

So now I have got a clue why most people go for looks. If this is the kind of crap we listened to when we were young, then it is of no wonder that we are instilled with the idea that looks are that important. (Honestly, I am also a shallow person who prefer guys to be good-looking. And yes, I read this story when I was a child.)

This story is going to be in my black list. I will never ever read this story to my students or child(ren). Ever.

The Little Frog's Day Out

"Help! Save me!"

Ethel spun around to the croaking, wondering who was making that noise. To her surprise, she saw a little green frog in Big Bird's mouth! She got to save it!

Ethel sang sweetly,

"Sunny Day

Sweepin' the clouds away

On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get,

How to get to Sesame Street?"

When Big Bird opened his mouth and tried to reply, the little green frog took a leap! And he escaped from Big Bird. "Thank you very much, little girl!" The little green frog gasped. He had not recovered from his fright.

"You are welcome. Who are you? What are you doing here?" Ethel was curious.

The little green frog slumped onto the ground and began in a sad tone. "I am a toy frog and I lived in a little house very far from here. Everyday, I will have lots of fun playing with two little boys who live with me. However, one day, I was bored. I want to see the world! So, I sneaked out of the little house. Little did I know what horrors were install for me! Now, I just want to go home!" He burst out crying.

After listening to his story, Ethel thought to herself, "I got to help him." So, she said loudly to the little green frog, "Don't worry! I will help you! Where do you stay?"

"Far, far away." He replied, dolefully.

Since he lived so far away, Ethel decided she could not walk that distance. She did the first thing that came to her mind - they would ride there.

She plonked the little green frog onto her trusty steed, Black Beauty, and rode into the forest. "Giddy up, Black Beauty!" And they galloped, and they galloped, and they galloped... Until Black Beauty could run no more.

"What do we do now?" The frog asked sadly.

"Don't worry, I have an idea." Ethel smiled.

She settled the little green frog on a train. "Isn't this a good idea?" She asked. The little green frog smiled happily at her. And they rambled on, and they rambled on, and they rambled on... Until the train could move no more.

"What do we do now?" The little green frog whined.

Ethel frowned and scratched her head. Suddenly, a car beeped at them! She turned and saw Barney!

"Don't worry, I have an idea." Ethel smiled.

Ethel perched the little green frog in Barney's car.

"I love you,

You love me.

We're a happy family." They sang the song gayly. The little green frog could not believe his good luck.

And they journey on, and they journey on, and they journey on.. Until Barney could drive no more.

"What do we do now?" The little green frog grumbled.

"We need some luck." Ethel thought. And luck arrived!

"Don't worry, I have an idea." Ethel was relieved.

She arranged the little green frog in Alvin's car which happened to be in the area they were in. And they travelled, and they travelled, and they travelled... Until Alvin could not drive anymore.

Faced with a dead end, Ethel cried, "What do we do now?"

The little green frog turned and smiled happily at her, "We do not need to do anything anymore! We are here! I am home!"

A hand lifted the little green frog and placed him back in the cupboard which is his home. "Thank you, little girl! I will never forget you!"

Ethel waved and wandered off, wondering what adventure was waiting for her around the corner.

Between Coke and Water

A lone man is walking in the dessert. His feet drags at the dry sand and in his eyes, there is a vacant look. “Water”, his dry lips crack. It has already been 3 days without water. His skin clings to his bones as he clings to the last hope of finding water.

Suddenly, he sees something shiny on his right. He turns and looks and behold! It is a glass of water! He musters the new energy hope brings, shoots out his right hand and grabs the glass of water. He takes a gulp from the glass. He smiles. The water refreshes his soul and new life pour into him. His eyes lose the vacant stare as hope, once again, glimmers in them. He raises the glass again and is about to take a second gulp when he notices something on his right.

It is a glass of ice cold Coke! He cannot believe his eyes! Coke! If water gives him life, then Coke gives him the will to live. Thirstily, he reaches out for the glass of Coke.

“Stop, my friend.” Is he going crazy? His mind recognizes the speaker but his heart cannot believe it. In front of him stands the devil, red and glowing and on his face is a recognizable grin.

“I am here to offer you a proposal. In your left hand, you are holding onto a glass of Coke. In your right hand, you are holding onto a glass of water. Should you wish to drink the glass of Coke, you will have to forfeit your glass of water and vice versa. Now, make your choice.” The devil grins even more widely. It seems that he is enjoying this little game he is playing with the man.

The man looks at the glass of Coke. Oh, how mysterious and dark it looks. He can almost remember the taste on the tip of his tongue; to feel it sliding down his throat and swishes in his stomach. The man grasps at the strand of the memory as the desert sucks it out of him.

He looks at the glass of water. How bland and uninviting. Moreover, he has tasted it and has lost a bit of interest in it. Why should he still choose it?

“No! Water has saved your life! How can you discard it after it saved you?” He asks himself.

“You are going to die soon anyway. Why not have some pleasure before you are gone?” The devil must have an acquaintance living in him.

“Water will quench your thirst and you may survive this ordeal! You can drink coke for the rest of your life if you get to live.”

The man looks at the glass of Coke and water. The mind argues back and forth. Which one shall he choose? Which one.


Which one will you choose? Coke or water?


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This is what happened when I can't get to sleep at night. I'll start thinking of stories.