Three to Get Ready

　　Three friends hopped until they came to a pond.

　　鈥淚 cannot hop over a pond,鈥� Bird said. 鈥淚 must fly across and wait for you on the other side.鈥�

　　鈥淚 do not see any lily pads,鈥� said Frog, 鈥渟o I cannot hop over the pond either. I must swim across.鈥�

　　鈥淚 cannot hop or fly that far,鈥� Grasshopper said. 鈥淣or can I swim. If I am to join you, the three of us must work together.鈥�

　　Grasshopper explained his plan. 鈥淧lease, Bird, fly to a tree and bring back a large leaf to float on the water. While I ride on the leaf, Frog can guide it across the pond.鈥�

　　Grasshopper鈥檚 plan worked perfectly. Soon the three friends were together on the other side of the pond.

　　鈥淏ut, Grasshopper,鈥� said Bird, 鈥淚 worked to bring the leaf, and Frog worked to push it. What work did you do?鈥�

　　鈥淚 thought of the plan,鈥� Grasshopper said, laughing. 鈥淎nd my plan worked, for here we are, ready to hop.鈥�

　　鈥淪o we are,鈥� agreed Bird and Frog.

　　And so they did.