Timble the Kid Frog sat at the edge of the lake, peering through a curtain of cattails. His wide, curious eyes watched as a massive, dappled shape lumbered to the water’s edge. The creature bent its head and began to gulp down water, sending ripples across the surface. Timble blinked, stunned by the sight. "Papa will never believe what I’ve seen… a frog bigger than any frog, drinking all the water!"

Timble bounded up to his father, Burl the Bullfrog, who reclined with his chest puffed out, basking in the late morning sun. Timble’s voice was breathless with excitement as he hopped around his father’s wide, webbed feet. "Papa, there’s a frog so enormous, with spots and horns, and he’s drinking all the water from the lake! You have to see him!" Burl blinked slowly, a crooked smile curling on his lips.

Burl straightened, his chest ballooning even more as he flexed his limbs and stretched his legs as far as he could. "A frog bigger than me? My boy, let me show you how a true frog handles such things. If a frog can drink the lake, so can I—watch this!" With great drama, Burl waddled down to the water’s edge, throwing glances back at Timble, his ego swelling nearly as much as his belly.

Burl planted himself at the shore, legs stretched impossibly wide, and sucked in a mighty breath, his throat pouch expanding like a great green balloon. He began to gulp and gulp, cheeks straining, the other frogs watching in awe and concern. "Careful, Papa! That’s a lot of water… Are you sure you can do it?" Burl only grunted, determined to prove his size and strength.

Suddenly, Timble caught sight of the cow again, her tail swishing lazily as she drank. Realization dawned, his mouth forming a round “O.” "Papa… that’s not a frog at all, it’s a cow! She’s just thirsty, not trying to empty the lake!" Burl, cheeks bulging, stopped mid-gulp and looked across the water, embarrassment flushing his green skin.

Burl deflated with a loud croak, sending a splash of water into the air. Timble giggled, and even Burl managed a sheepish smile as the lesson settled in. "Perhaps not every tale needs proving, Timble. And maybe some things are best left to cows." As dusk fell, the frogs sang together, the lake as full and lively as ever, and Timble watched the world with wiser, brighter eyes.