Freddy the frog was a very happy frog during the day. He loved leaping from lily pad to lily pad, catching juicy flies, and splashing in the cool pond water. But when the sun began to set, and the pond grew dark, Freddy would get very, very scared. He didn’t like the shadows, and he worried about what might be hiding under the water.
Every night, Freddy’s mama would tuck him into his cozy bed of soft green moss. “What’s wrong, my little hopper?” she’d ask, noticing his trembling legs. “I… I don’t like the dark,” Freddy would whisper. “It’s scary!” Mama Frog would always give him a warm hug and say, “The dark isn’t something to fear, Freddy. It’s just the pond resting.” But Freddy still felt scared.
One evening, Old Man Turtle, the wisest creature in the pond, saw Freddy looking worried. He slowly swam over and said, “Little Freddy, I hear you’re afraid of the dark. Do you know what helps *me* when I feel a little unsure?” Freddy shook his head. “I close my eyes and imagine all the wonderful things I did during the day,” Old Man Turtle explained. “I remember the warm sunshine and the tasty weeds I ate.”
Freddy decided to try it. He closed his eyes tight and remembered leaping the highest he’d ever leaped! He remembered catching the biggest, juiciest fly! He remembered playing hide-and-seek with his friends. A little smile started to grow on his face.
“And,” Old Man Turtle added, “remember that even when you can’t *see* everything, your mama is always nearby, and the pond is still a safe and peaceful place.” Freddy opened his eyes a little. He could still see shadows, but they didn’t seem so scary anymore. He thought about his mama’s warm hug and the gentle sounds of the pond.
That night, when Mama Frog tucked him in, Freddy took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and remembered all the fun he’d had. He told himself, “I am a brave little frog! I can handle the dark!” And you know what? He could. He drifted off to sleep, feeling safe, peaceful, and very proud of himself. From that night on, Freddy wasn’t quite so scared of the dark anymore. He knew that even a little frog could be brave, especially when he remembered all the good things in his life.