ArchimedesTheFlyingFrog
Page 1
This is the story of Archimedes the Flying Frog Chapter 1: The Restless Frog and the Reading Mole It was a fine Sunday morning. Mole was perfectly at ease, perched on his favourite toadstool with the Sunday paper. He loved nothing more than his quiet reading time. Out on the pond, Archimedes the frog fidgeted on a lily pad. He drummed his fingers. He wriggled his toes. He let out a very big sigh. For Archimedes, the stillness of the morning just wasn’t enough. Suddenly, a dragonfly zipped across the water, shimmering in the sunlight. It caught Archimedes’ eye. “Mole!” called Archimedes. “Just look at that! How do dragonflies skim over the pond and fly like that? Isn’t it wonderful?” Mole glanced up, only for a moment. “I suppose,” he said, “but really, dragonflies fly and I read. Not so different, is it?” But Archimedes was lost in thought. “I’d like to fly myself!” he declared. Mole sighed, rustling his paper. “Isn’t it enough that you can leap and bound as you do?” But Archimedes had already made up his mind. “No, I want to fly! ….and, I’m going to give it a go right now!” Off he dashed to his little tool shed. Moments later—the peace was shattered! Bangs, rattles, and clangs tumbled out across the pond as Archimedes began his latest round of experiments. Poor Mole. His quiet Sunday had been turned all topsy-turvy again by Archimedes’ endless curiosity. Page1of6
Page 2
Chapter 2: The Flying Invention A little later, as the sun climbed higher, Archimedes’ tummy began to rumble. He poked his head from the shed and hurried to join Mole by the water’s edge for a proper cup of tea. There they sat— cups in hand—nibbling on cakes and spooning up thick dollopsof cream. Because, naturally, no tea would be complete without both. Mole took a careful sip, then peered over his newspaper. At last, he decided to speak plainly. “So, how’s your tinkering coming along in that shed of yours? And could you possibly keep it a bit quieter? It’s rather putting me off my reading.” Archimedes grinned, quite unbothered. “Oh, it’s going splendidly! I’ve made a wing from balsa wood and tissue paper. Next, I’ll add a bobbin and an elastic band—then I’ll have a propeller! I know you don’t believe me—but you’ll see! Soon I’ll be flying right over the water in my new flying invention, just like that dragonfly!” Mole looked alarmed. “Really, Archimedes? That sounds dreadfully dangerous. Frogs are meant to leap and bound, not fly. Why can’t you be content with hopping about a bit?” Archimedes straightened, eyes shining. “No, Mole,” he said, “that’s not good enough for me. I want to fly—and I want to fly now!” And off he stomped, little frog-feet determined, straight back to his shed. For Archimedes, nothing would be settled until he’d taken to the skies.
Page 3
Chapter 3: The Balsa and Tissue Paper Experiment Soon enough, the bangs and crashes started up again from the shed. Mole, at last enjoying peace and quiet, settled back with his Sunday paper. He read all the latest news from the brook, the pond, and all that was happening across Frog Manor. But just as Mole turned to the crossword, Archimedes burst out of the shed—looking every bit the daring aviator. He wore a leather flying cap and a pair of shiny goggles. He puffed out his chest and gave a proud little bow. “Mole, meet my new flying machine!” he declared. By his side, he had the wings and a twisting propeller, all ready to strap onto his back. Mole’s eyes grew enormous. “How exactly is this contraption supposed to work?” With the swagger of an explorer, Archimedes explained,“You wind up the propeller. Then I’ll climb to the very top of the fountain, leap off, and glide right across the pond!” Mole blinked. “Crikey—are you sure? It sounds dreadfully dangerous. Are you certain you don’t want to reconsider this?” But Archimedes just grinned. His eyes sparkled with determination. Nothing in the world would stop this frog from trying to fly.
Page 4
Chapter 4: Frog Takes Flight Once again, Archimedes vanished from sight.Moments later, he popped up at the very top of the fountain. He waved both arms and shouted, “Yoo-hoo! Here I go!” Mole’s whiskers tingled with excitement.Archimedes stepped back, disappeared for a heartbeat, and then—with those big frog legs—launched himself into the air. Up he sprang, higher than ever before. For a split second, nothing happened.Then, with a sudden whoosh, the wind caught his wings. The propeller whirred and whizzed. Archimedes shot forward—gliding across the pond! Mole watched, wide-eyed and breathless. It was glorious. But just as Archimedes reached the middle of the pond— disaster! The propeller sputtered. The elastic band snapped. Down, down, down he went—splash!—right back into the pond, wings and all.
Page 5
Chapter 5: The Crash, Bang, Whollop! As Archimedes crashed into the pond, his flying contraption came to pieces. The wings flopped. The propeller zinged off into the bushes. The elastic band snapped—twang!—and shot straight at Mole, sending his newspaper flying and tipping him off his toadstool! Meanwhile, Archimedes spluttered and splashed, tangled in paper wings. At last, he scrambled out onto the bank—a soggy, dripping, sorry sight. But there was still a twinkle in Archimedes’ eye. “Did you see that?” he beamed. “I flew!” Mole righted himself and brushed off his damp fur. He peered over his spectacles and said, dry as toast,“No, you glided for a moment, then plummeted into the pond. That’s not flying, Archimedes. That’s just falling—without decorum!”
Page 6
Chapter 6: The Two Friends Share a Hearty Laugh Archimedes shook water droplets from his head. A wry little smile crept across his face. Mole, still a bit soggy and missing his newspaper, couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well, Archimedes,” he said, “you did have quite an adventure after all.” Archimedes grinned, brighter than ever. “Maybe I didn’t truly fly,” he said, “but I learned plenty. Next time, I’ll make it even better!” Mole gave him a fond, if slightly weary, look. “Just promise me next time you’ll warn me before you go soaring. I’d rather keep my seat—and my tail—dry.” The two friends shared a good, long laugh. Archimedes had turned a peaceful Sunday into a story worth telling, and Mole had to admit—life was much more interesting with a flying frog for a friend. And so, the flying frog and his bookish companion settled beside the pond, ready for whatever curious adventure might come next.