Mod the Toad

Mod the Toad Alice Mulwa

Long ago, all toads lived in the water and had smooth, slippery skin. But one toad became tired of being cold and wet all the time. "I want to go an adventure!" Mod said. "But where should I go?"

"You could leave the river and explore the forest," her friend the terrapin said. "But be careful. Don't leave the water for too long or your skin will dry out."

Mod was sure her skin would enjoy the warm, dry air. She couldn't wait to begin and hopped right out of the water. Hop, hop, she went, away from the river. She had fun jumping over the rocks, across grass, and over trenches.

She heard the sound of an airplane. Mod looked up into the sky. "What is up there?" she asked. "I wonder if the clouds are talking." But no one answered her.

Mod carried on and soon she met a chameleon. "Hello, I am looking for adventure. What can you tell me about the world away from the river?" she asked. "Nothing much, stranger. It rains a lot here. There are lots of flies to eat," replied the chameleon.

But suddenly, the chameleon's body changed color!Mod had never seen anything like it. She was frightened and hopped away as quickly as she could.

Mod quickly found herself facing another strange new creature. It was a hyena, burning bushes to prepare for the planting season.

Mod was frightened of the hyena, but did not want to turn around and face the chameleon either, so she stayed hidden in the bushes. The fire came closer, and closer!

With nowhere to run, the flames began to burn her back.Mod looked frantically for an escape. She spotted a small pond some distance away. It was her only hope. She closed her eyes and leapt as high and far as she could.

SPLASH!Mod landed right in the pond. For the first time in a long time, she was grateful for the cool water, which put out the flames on her back. But the damage was done. When she came out of the puddle, the skin on her back was covered with blisters.

Mod wanted to go home. But she did not know the way back to the river. So the little toad found a cool, dark place under a rock and made a new home. Her burned skin slowly healed, but it was dry and bumpy.

This is why toads have dry rough skin, and can live away from water. Frogs still have smooth wet skin and need to stay where it's wet.