Once upon a time there were 2 frogs that fell into a container of cream. Immediately they realised they were going to drown: it was impossible to swim or float for very long in the thick, quicksand-like liquid. For a while the 2 frogs kicked the cream, trying to reach the edge of the container. But it was useless; they only managed to splash about in the same place and sink deeper.


One of the frogs said: “I can’t take anymore. It’s impossible to get out of here. I can’t swim in this stuff. And, as I’m going to die, I can’t see the point in drawing out my suffering. I don’t see the sense in dying exhausted through all this pointless effort.” Having said this, he stopped kicking and drowned quickly, swallowed by the thick white liquid.

The other frog, who was more persistent or perhaps more stubborn, said: “It’s impossible! I can’t do anything to get out of this. However, although death is drawing near, I’d rather fight until my last breath. I don’t want to die a second before my time.” He carried on kicking and splashing, always on the spot, not moving one centimetre, for hours and hours. And suddenly, after such a lot of kicking and beating, stirring and kicking, the cream turned into butter.

Surprised, the frog jumped, and skidding he reached the edge of the container. From there he was able to go home, croaking happily.

From Déjame que te cuente by Jorge Bucay