On a warm morning, the sun was shining brightly, and the pond at the edge of the forest sparkled. The grass moved gently in the breeze, and the leaves seemed to whisper to each other. By the pond, a small, curious frog named Frodo hopped around, looking for someone to play with. Frodo was bright green with big, round eyes that sparkled with mischief.

Frodo loved the water. He spent hours jumping in and out of the pond, catching flies, and swimming happily. “Ah, nothing beats the cool splash of water on a sunny day!” Frodo said to himself with joy.

While hopping near the water, Frodo saw a tiny creature moving through the tall grass. It was a mouse named Milo. Milo had soft, brown fur and a twitchy nose that was always sniffing the air. He was looking for something tasty to eat.

Milo enjoyed exploring the forest floor. He liked the feel of the earth under his tiny feet and the smell of fresh grass. “The forest is full of surprises! Every day is a new adventure,” Milo said as he found a sweet berry to eat.

Frodo noticed Milo’s excitement and thought it would be fun to have someone to play with. “Hello! What are you doing by the pond?” Frodo called out.

Milo looked up, surprised but happy to see a friendly face. “Oh, hello! I’m just looking for some berries. The forest is full of surprises!” Milo replied with a smile.

Frodo’s eyes brightened with an idea. “Why don’t we play together? We can explore the forest and the pond! It’ll be so much fun!” Frodo suggested, hopping closer to Milo.

Milo hesitated. “I’m not sure... I’m not very good at swimming,” he said, looking at the pond nervously.

“Oh, don’t worry! We can stay by the edge and enjoy the cool water on our feet. Come on, it’ll be great!” Frodo encouraged.

Milo thought about it and agreed. “Alright, let’s do it! But only near the edge, okay?” Milo said, feeling more confident with Frodo’s reassurance.

The two friends started to play by the pond. They laughed, splashed around, and tried to catch flies together, though Milo wasn’t as quick as Frodo. “You’re fast, Frodo! I can’t keep up,” Milo giggled.

Frodo, excited, suddenly had another idea. “Hey, Milo! Let’s go for a swim! The water is so refreshing!” Frodo suggested, hopping into the shallow part of the pond.

Milo shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Frodo. I can’t swim and don’t want to go into the deep water,” Milo said, his voice shaky.

But Frodo didn’t listen. “Oh, come on, Milo! You’ll love it once you’re in the water. Just hold onto my leg, and I’ll pull you along. Trust me!” Frodo said, trying to sound convincing.

Milo was unsure but didn’t want to disappoint Frodo. So, he cautiously held onto Frodo’s leg as Frodo started to swim towards the deeper part of the pond.

At first, it was okay. Milo’s feet still touched the bottom, and he felt safe. But as Frodo swam further, the water got deeper, and Milo started to panic. “Frodo, wait! I can’t feel the ground anymore! I’m scared!” Milo squeaked.

Frodo, realizing his mistake, tried to turn back, but the current was too strong. “Hold on, Milo! I’m trying to get us back!” Frodo croaked, worried.

The two friends struggled, but Frodo managed to bring Milo closer to the shore. With one final effort, Milo scrambled out of the water, wet and shivering, but safe.

Frodo hopped out after him, feeling guilty. “I’m so sorry, Milo. I shouldn’t have taken you into deep water. I just wanted us to have fun,” Frodo said, feeling ashamed.

Milo, still trembling, looked at Frodo. “I know you didn’t mean to harm me, Frodo. But you should have listened when I said I was scared. We need to respect each other’s fears,” Milo said softly.

Frodo nodded, understanding. “You’re right, Milo. Friends should listen to each other and make sure everyone feels safe. I promise not to do something like that again,” Frodo said sincerely.

Milo smiled weakly but felt better knowing Frodo had learned his lesson. “And I’ll try to be braver, but only when I’m ready,” Milo added, appreciating Frodo’s apology.

The two friends sat by the pond, drying off in the sun. They talked about their adventure and how important it was to trust and care for each other.

From that day on, Frodo and Milo became best friends, always making sure to respect each other’s boundaries and fears. They learned that true friendship is about understanding, trust, and listening to each other.