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Sometimes tiny bubbles are more
than just tiny bubbles. When bubbles
escape from your tummy and are
full of gas- they are burps! And burps
differ from all other bubbles in one
very exciting way- sound!
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I can make the sound from those bubbles float out my mouth sound like a frog-CROAK!
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We turtles typically don't
say much. We enjoy swimming,
eating worms or bugs or leaves,
and sunbathing on warm rocks.
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Now frogs- they talk! They talk all the time! -RIBET, RIBET- and when they are not talking, they are singing- CROOOAAAK- I know they stop occasionally to eat a fly or mosquito, but you don't hear it!
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I don't think the frogs realized we turtles were listening. When I said hello, they were very surprised! I introduced myself as I was slowly climbing onto a log.I said to the group of frogs,
"It must be easier to hop onto a log than my slow climb."
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The frogs looked stunned, but they were not speechless. The closest frog replied, "-RIBET, RIBET- How marvelous! A talking turtle!"
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"Yes, hopping onto a log is no problem, as long as it doesn't start to roll!" He paused to ask one of his friends, "Is this for real? Am I really talking to a turtle?"
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"Hello, my name is Bobby Burple -RIBET, RIBET- I've been listening to your conversation for ages, but I only recently learned to speak.
-RIBET- I've been practicing, but I still haven't learned to sing. -CROAK-"
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"How fantastic," said the frog. "I'm John. You must join us this evening for our choir practice!-RIBET, RIBET- There you will learn to sing. Tell me, how did you learn to speak frog?"
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"Well, the first time it surprised me.
I had just taken a long swim and gas
had built up in my tummy. I was lying
in a warm, sunny spot when a little
gas bubble slid up from my tummy
through my throat, making a little
sound.-BURP- As I was wondering
about that first sound,
a bigger gas bubble crept up
from my tummy, producing a
bigger sound. -BURP-
Then I was out of gas,
and there were
no more sounds."
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"I wondered if I would ever speak again, but after another long swim, the same thing happened. After a few repetitions, I figured out how to speak frog.- RIBET, RIBET-I'm excited to join your conversation!-CROAK-" I told them.
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"How stupendous!" said John. "I never thought I'd speak to a turtle. We will have so much to talk about. -RIBET, RIBET- You can tell us about the water conditions and we can tell you what is happening on the shore!" John gave me instruction to the rock pile that served as the choir's meeting spot for that evening. I swam off to build up gas in my tummy, and maybe eat a bit of dinner before choir practice.
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I awoke to a chorus of frog song in the air!
-CROAK, CROAK- I'm late! Oh no, dinner
must have lead to a nap, and the frogs
had already started! I swam to the rocks
and found the frogs focused, concentrating
their efforts to produce the
symphony that was unfolding.
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I didn't want to interrupt, but I did want to watch, listen, and learn. I decided to swim a bit closer underwater. This way I could take a peek at the gathering but stay out of sight, out of the way.
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I was rather close when I felt a move of bubbles in my tummy. I couldn't hold it in! I let a big bubble escape into the water- it escaped without a sound!
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I watched the bubble slowly, silently float toward the surface. And when it reached the surface...
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...it released like thunder!
CROAK! It was a sound so
big it rocked a nearby log, which
created a wave of mud that flowed
to the rocks where the frogs
were singing! Everyone
jumped into the water.
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As we all floated eye to eye in the pond, I burped, "Sorry to have interrupted."
John called out. "RIBET, RIBET-
that is one impressive high note!"
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The frogs were happy to have a new voice in the choir. I was thrilled to join in. Now I have a new language and new friends. See, not all tiny bubbles are the same.
