Tom and the Big Fish

Part One

Tom sat on the dock with his fishing pole. The sun was warm and the water was still.

He waited and waited. A little fish swam by. It did not even look at his hook.

Then, tug! Something pulled hard on the line. Tom held on with both hands.

"A big fish!" he yelled. "It must be the biggest fish in the lake!"

The pole bent down low. Tom pulled and pulled. His arms began to shake.

With one last pull, the line came up. Splash! Water flew everywhere.

It was not a fish at all. It was one old boot, full of mud and water.

Tom laughed and laughed. "That is the worst fish I ever caught," he said.

He tipped the boot over. Out came the water. Then out hopped a tiny green frog!

The frog sat on the dock and blinked at Tom. "Ribbit," it said, as if to say thank you.

Tom looked at the boot. "I know," he said. "I will make you a home."

He set the boot by the water, top turned up. He put a flat rock by the door.

The frog hopped right in. Then it peeked out at Tom from the top.

Tom did not catch a fish that day. But he made a friend, and a house for him.