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- [00:01]
Amanda Weldon
Hello. Welcome to Stories Podcast. I'm your host, Amanda Weldon. Today's story is called Froggy Riding High, an original story written for you by Daniel Hines, adapted from African Folklore. We have Stories Podcast merch, available@storiespodcast.com shop. We're also on Cameo for all of your personalized video message needs. And don't forget to follow us on Instagram Stories Podcast. If you send us a drawing of your favorite scene or character, we'll share it on our feed. Now, here's a word from our sponsors. Before we dive into today's tale, here's something magical for our listeners. Imagine turning the adventures you hear about from stories into real life experiences with Groupon. Your family can discover activities that mirror the tales we share, like visiting a castle, exploring a zoo, or crafting your own masterpiece in an art class. When I checked out Groupon offerings in my area, I saw an amazing deal on a whale watch right nearby. My family and I will definitely be doing that this summer. Your next magical family day might be hiding in the Groupon app too, just waiting to be discovered. Groupon is offering our listeners a very special promotion to get your adventure started. Use code STORIES30 to get 30% off when checking out at Groupon before May 31st. That's code STORIES30. Adventure is just around the corner.
- [01:28]
Daniel Hines
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- [02:53]
Amanda Weldon
Thanks. Enjoy the episode Froggy Riding High Once upon a time, there lived a little frog named Louie Louie, though his friends called him just one Louie. To save time, you understand. Louie lived with a bunch of other animals on the muddy shores of a lake where the wind rustled the tall grass and the big animals came to take their drinks in the sunny afternoons. Louie mostly spent his time catching flies near the elephants. They were big and splashy and loud, but they didn't try to eat you like the crocodiles did. To a croc, a little frog is hardly a snack, but that didn't stop them from eating frogs like you'd eat potato chips. So yeah, it was safer to stay on the elephant side of the lake as long as you paid attention to not get stomped on. Louie had a lot of friends, but he was a little older now and he was looking for a wife. Fortunately, he had just the frog in mind. Her name was Louise, and she was a smart, kind, beautiful froggy. Her green was bright as new spring leaves and she could jump so high it seemed like she kissed the sun. Plus, her name was perfect. Louie and Louise. It was meant to be as far as Louie was concerned. And one day he decided to tell her so. It was a warm morning when Louie came swimming out of his little house in the muddy bank. He was looking for Louise, but the only one out was Tumbo, the elephant. Louie sighed. Most of the elephants were happy to ignore the frogs, but not Tumbo. He loved to make fun of the little guys and would sometimes even take water into his trunk and then blast the frogs like a cannon. Louie tried to sink away, but. But Tumbo had already seen him.
- [04:42]
Tumbo
Whatcha doing up so early, little guy? The elephant asked, looking for a maiden to kiss so you don't have to be an ugly frog anymore. Haha.
- [04:51]
Amanda Weldon
Uh, very funny, Tumbo, said Louie. I'm just getting an early start on the day.
- [04:57]
Tumbo
An early start? I'd say so look, you forgot the most important part of getting ready, Tumbo said.
- [05:04]
Amanda Weldon
What? Asked Louie. What did I miss?
- [05:08]
Tumbo
You forgot to shower, Tumbo said, and.
- [05:12]
Amanda Weldon
Then he blasted Louie with a wave of water from his long trunk. Louie went rolling head over tail into the water and came up spluttering.
- [05:21]
Tumbo
There, now you're clean.
- [05:25]
Amanda Weldon
Trumpeted Tumbo, and he started laughing. You know, you're a real bully sometimes, Louie said. Wouldn't you rather have friends than enemies? By this point, the other frogs and elephants were up and Coming to the lake for their morning drink. Louie saw that Louise was up and coming to the pond, so he tried to end his conversation with Tumbo so she wouldn't see him getting bullied.
- [05:47]
Tumbo
I'd rather have fun than anything, said Tumbo. And giving you a hard time is fun for me.
- [05:54]
Amanda Weldon
Well, enjoy that then, said Louie, humble, hopping away, annoyed.
- [05:59]
Tumbo
I will, little buddy, I will.
- [06:02]
Amanda Weldon
Tumbo called after Louie as he hopped into the reeds and settled down near Louise. Was that elephant talking to you? She asked, curious. I've never known any frog who was friends with an elephant. Oh, yeah, said Louie, trying to make the best of his situation. He called you buddy, she said, sounding impressed. Are you friends? Mm. Um, we're old friends, Louise said, seeing an opportunity to look good in front of Louise. Actually, he kinda works for me. Wow. Louise breathed the elephant works for you? Oh, yeah, said Louie. He's my personal mount. Whenever I need to get somewhere far and don't feel like hopping there myself, I just call up Tumbo and he gives me a ride. Now, of course, this was a lie, but with how terribly Tumbo treated him, Louie didn't feel bad about stretching the truth. Wow, said Louise. You really are something else. At this point, some other frogs nearby started laughing. One of them, a lanky hopper named Peppy, leaned over Louie and Louise. Uh, he's just pulling your leg, he said. No frog has ever gotten a ride on an elephant. He's just trying to impress you. Louise looked at Louie, suddenly suspicious. Is what he's saying true? No, no, no, said Louie. Peppy is just jealous, is all. He's never been for a ride on an elephant, and so he can't imagine the totally awesome frog who does it whenever he wants. Yeah, right, said Peppy. Prove it, then. Um, I will, said Louie. Ok, said Louise. Why don't you come over for a date tomorrow? Ride over on your elephant, and if you're telling the truth, I'll make you the best dinner you've ever had. Yeah, sneered Peppy. And when she sees you're lying, she's gonna throw you out on your tail. Well, I guess we'll just have to see tomorrow night, said Louie. Good luck getting squashed, said Peppy. And he and his friends walked off laughing. Hey, I believe you, said Louise. I'll make you the best dinner you've ever had. I can't wait, said Louie. And then they parted ways to run their errands for the day. Once Louis was alone, he thought long and hard. He wasn't sure how he could possibly convince Tumbo to give him a ride. The elephant might give him a shower, but only if he could blast him across the lake with it. What can I do? He mused to himself, sitting in the mud. How can I even get Tumbo to talk to me? He only bothers when he wants to tease me. Or he's mad. Or when he's mad. That gave Louie the idea. Louie spent the rest of the day hopping around the pond, every frog and croc and big and bird he saw. He spread the story that Tumbo the elephant worked for him. He told some critters and they told some critters, and by the end of the day, everyone knew that Tumbo worked for Louie. And then all Louie had to do was sit and wait. Now for a quick ad break. We'll be back with the rest of the story after this. If you'd like Stories Podcast and other favorite kid podcasts ad free. Subscribe to Wondery Kids on Apple Podcasts. Here's something magical for our listeners. Imagine turning the adventures you hear about from stories into real life experiences. With Groupon. Your family can discover activities that mirror the tales we share, like visiting a castle, exploring a zoo, or crafting your own masterpiece in an art class. When I checked out Groupon offerings in my area, I saw an amazing deal on a whale watch right nearby. My family and I will definitely be doing that this summer. Your next magical family day might be hiding in the Groupon app too, just waiting to be discovered. Groupon is offering our listeners a very special promotion to get your adventure started. Use code STORIES30 to get 30% off when checking out at Groupon before May 31st. That's code STORIES30. Groupon Adventure is just around the corner.
- [10:27]
Daniel Hines
Thanks.
- [10:27]
Amanda Weldon
And now back to the story. Early the next morning, he heard a crashing through the trees and a loud and angry trumpeting. Immediately, Louie fell to the ground, enacting the second part of his plan. He lay in the mud, shaking and shivering, just waiting for Tumbo to come. And come he did. A second later, the elephant burst out of the trees, stomping and quivering with rage.
- [10:57]
Tumbo
Little frog. Hey Louie, he trumpeted. I know you live around here. Speak up or I'm gonna start stomping everything I see. Wait.
- [11:08]
Amanda Weldon
Louie said, doing his best to sound sick and weak. Wait, Tumbo, I'm here. Aha. Said Tumbo.
- [11:17]
Tumbo
If it isn't the frog who loves to tell lies.
- [11:21]
Amanda Weldon
What? What are you talking about? Louie asked, fluttering his eyes. I'm so sick, Tumbo. Please leave me alone. No way, said the elephant.
- [11:32]
Tumbo
You told everybody that I worked for you.
- [11:36]
Amanda Weldon
I heard you spouting all those lies.
- [11:37]
Tumbo
To impress that little froggy friend of yours, Louise.
- [11:41]
Amanda Weldon
I. I did, admitted Louie. I'm sorry. I just wanted to seem important.
- [11:48]
Tumbo
Well, you won't seem important if it makes me look like a fool. No, no, no, no. Getting ahead at my expense, you little frogg.
- [11:57]
Amanda Weldon
I'm so sorry, louie said weakly. Please let me make it up to you. I'll tell Louise the truth tomorrow.
- [12:04]
Tumbo
Oh, no, you won't, said Tumbo. You'll go and tell her the truth right now.
- [12:11]
Amanda Weldon
Louie moaned and rolled back and forth in the mud. Oh, I would, but I'm too sick to hop. I can't even stand up. My little froggy legs are too weak.
- [12:22]
Tumbo
I don't care how weak you are, said Tumbo. We are going now.
- [12:26]
Amanda Weldon
As he said it, his long trunk reached down and sank into the mud. A second later, Louie felt the trunk curl around him and lift him into the air with a gentle plop. The elephant sat, the frog on top of his back.
- [12:41]
Tumbo
Now you hold on back there, tumbo said. I'm taking you straight to Louise and you're telling her the truth.
- [12:48]
Amanda Weldon
All right, louie said softly, but he was sitting tall and straight on the elephant's back, out of his sight. But there's a nasty nest of killer bees on the road. You better go around the lake or else we'll get stung. Right you are, said Tumbo, and he swung to walk around the lake. He took his time nodding at all the other animals. They seemed to all be having a good day because everyone Tumbo saw was smiling and laughing and waving. Now, Tumbo didn't know it, but they were smiling and laughing and waving for Louie, up on Tumbo's back. He was sitting tall like a king. He waved at the other animals as they strolled past, looking casual, like he went for a ride on an elephant every afternoon. They crossed near where Peppy and the other frogs were sitting. They looked up and their froggy jaws dropped to the ground. There, sitting high like a king on Tumbo's back, was Louie. He waved to them casually and then turned away like he had more important things to worry about. He was telling the truth, whispered Peppy. Holy flies and mosquitoes. He was telling the truth. Go, Louie. Ride that monster. The other frogs burst into cheers, and Tumbo smiled. They were clearly all happy that he was teaching Louie a lesson. He took his time strolling around the lake and soaking in the cheers until finally he pushed off the path to visit Louise's. Louie still in his fake sick voice, guided the elephant to a pretty stand of flowers with a little trickle of water running through. This is where Louise lives, Louie said.
- [14:28]
Tumbo
Good, said Tumbo.
- [14:30]
Amanda Weldon
He reached up and grabbed the frog with his trunk and set him on the ground in front of a little door in the flowers. Louie reached up to knock, but the door flew open before he could reach it. Louie, said Louise, leaping out the door and into his arms, you are telling the truth. I saw Tumbo carry you right to my door and set you down. He really is your personal ride. Luckily, the little frogs were small and low to the ground, so their little voices didn't carry way up to Tumbo's ears. He was my servant, truth be told, said Louis, setting down Louise with a smile. But I've decided he's served me well and faithfully for all this time. So I think maybe it's time to let him go and live his own life. Besides, I think I'd rather spend all my time with you, Louise. That's so sweet, Louie, she said, giving him another big hug. Yeah, just let me break it to the big guy and I'll be back tomorrow. How's that sound? It sounds great, said Louise. And then Louie waved up at Tumbo, and the elephant scooped him up in his trunk and set him on his broad back.
- [15:39]
Tumbo
So you told her the truth then?
- [15:41]
Amanda Weldon
Tumbo asked quite sternly. Of course, said Louie, kicking back on the ride home. I told her the truth and that she'll never see you and I together again because you're so high above me and all. That's right, said Tumbo, and then he brought Louie back home. On the way, they passed the lake again, and everyone gave another long, resounding cheer for Louie, standing on Tumbo's back and taking deep bows for his audience. Finally, they got back to Louie's home in the mud. Tumbo grabbed the frog in his trunk and held him eye to eye.
- [16:17]
Tumbo
So you learned your lesson then, little punk?
- [16:19]
Amanda Weldon
I sure did, said Louie. You'll never see me around here again.
- [16:24]
Tumbo
Good, said Tumbo. Later, loser.
- [16:28]
Amanda Weldon
And then the elephant walked away. As soon as he was gone, Louie laughed and laughed. His plan had worked perfectly, and he didn't feel too bad about tricking a bully like Tumbo. And the next day he went to Louise's house, and together, Louie and Louise moved on to a different lake with different, nicer elephants, where they lived happily ever after. The End Today's story, Froggy Riding High, was an original story written for you by Daniel Hynes, adapted from African Folklore. It was edited and produced by Andrew Martin and performed for you by me, Amanda Weldon. If you would like to support Stories podcast, you can leave us a five star review on itunes. Check out all of our merch available@storiespodcast.com Shop Commission a special video on Cameo, follow us on Instagram oriespodcast or simply tell your friends about us. Thanks for listening.