Soon It Will Rain

The frog was bursting with happiness that day, splashing joyfully near the edge of a muddy, shrinking pond.

"Hey, why on earth are you so happy?" asked the hippo, letting out a heavy, tired sigh. "This summer heat is unbearable. The ground is cracking, the water is almost gone, and yet here you are, hopping around without a care in the world."

"I am happy because I can feel it in the air," the frog replied with a bright smile, puffing out his chest. "It will rain very soon!"

"Don't talk nonsense!" snapped the hippo, his patience wearing thin. He gestured angrily toward the blazing sun. "Look up—there isn't a single cloud in the sky! How can you sit there dreaming of rain when we're baking in this heat?"

The frog remained calm, closing his eyes to feel the warm breeze. "Just wait and see."

Before the hippo could argue any further, a tiny gray cloud drifted quietly into view. Then came another, and another, gathering speed until the bright blue sky was completely swallowed by deep, rolling storm clouds. The wind picked up, rustling the dry bushes and cooling the sweltering air.

Suddenly, a massive clap of thunder echoed across the land, followed by a flash of lightning. Down came the rain—a powerful, refreshing downpour that washed away the heat and quickly filled the dry ponds and empty rivers back to the brim.

As the cool water rose around them, the hippo took a deep, grateful breath. Looking down at his tiny, soaking-wet friend, he bowed his head in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry for shouting at you," the hippo said softly. "You saw hope when I only saw heat."

The frog just smiled and took a happy leap straight into the cool, fresh river.