Toad went to Frog’s house. He found a note on the door.

The note said, “Dear Toad, I am not at home. I went out. I want to be alone.”

“Alone?” said Toad. “I am Frog’s friend. Why does he want to be alone?”

Toad looked through the windows. He looked in the garden. He did not see Frog.

Toad went to the woods. Frog was not there.

He went to the meadow. Frog was not there.

Toad went to the river. There was Frog.

He was sitting on an island all by himself.

“Poor Frog,” said Toad. “He is very sad. I will make him happy.”

Toad ran home. He made sandwiches. He made iced tea. He put everything in a basket.

Toad went back to the river.

“Frog,” he shouted, “it’s me. It’s your best friend, Toad!”

Frog was too far away and did not hear.

Toad took off his jacket and waved it like a flag.

Frog was too far away and did not see.

Toad shouted and waved, but with no result.

Frog sat on the island. He did not see or hear Toad.

A turtle swam by. Toad got on the turtle’s back.

“Turtle,” said Toad, “take me to the island. Frog is there. He wants to be alone.”

“If Frog wants to be alone,” said the turtle, “why don’t you let him be alone?”

“Maybe you are right,” said Toad. “Maybe Frog does not want to see me. Maybe he does not want me to be his friend anymore.”

“Yes, maybe,” said the turtle and swam to the island.

“Frog!” cried Toad. “I am sorry for all the silly things I did. I am sorry for all the silly things I said. Please be my friend again!”

Toad got off the turtle. He fell in the river.

Frog helped Toad to get onto the island.

Toad looked in the basket. The sandwiches were wet. There was no iced tea.

“Oh, no, our lunch!” said Toad. “I made it for you, Frog, to make you happy.”

“But Toad,” said Frog. “I am happy. I am very happy. This morning when I woke up I was happy because the sun was shining. I was happy because I was a frog. And I was happy because I have you, my friend. I wanted to be alone. I wanted to think about how happy I am.”

“Oh,” said Toad. “I see why you wanted to be alone.”

“But now,” said Frog, “I do not want to be alone. Let’s eat our lunch.”

Frog and Toad sat on the island all day. They ate wet sandwiches without iced tea. They were two close friends sitting alone together.