TOLD BY READERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 17, 21 January 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

TOLD BY READERS

Original Stories under this heading are invited for our Fortnightly Competition,

An entertaining school story from the pen of Noelle Macdonald, Bassett Road, Remuera, Auckland, 5.E.2, age 15, carried off the 5/ prize for the best story submitted this week, "Brothers," a well-written tale by Joan Skinner, Victoria Street, Waihi, age 12 years, being of almost equal merit, but lacking the originality of the prize-winning story. Highly commended entries were submitted by Phyllis Hughes, Bathia Luttrell and Jean Small.

THE FROG.

.(/Pjdze-whmtDg entry by Noelle Macdonald, ijassett Road, Eearaera, ilwdtland, SJB. 2, B®e To.) "Well played, St. Vals. Hard luck Chiltern," rang over the field as the two teams, the St. Valentine's and Chilterns, came slowly up to meet the cheers of the e pecta tors after a very strenuous game of cricket. The Chiltern team had thronged round their captain, Patricia Sterne. "Bother it ant" she flung at them, furiously. "If it had not been for that wretched new girl, Doreen, we might have won. How she fumbled those balls, and h#r bowling! Och! It makes one sick." And she turned disgustedly away, with Vera, her beet chum, at her side. "Why on earth was she in the team?" ksked Vera as they walked away. "Goodness, haven't you heard that Sheila's down with the mumps, and couldn't play. Miss Johns suggested Doreen. Of course, I knew it would be utterly absurd to have her in, but it is absolutely no use arguing with Miss Johns, because she is simply crazy about Doreen—everything she says is right and everything she does is right, according to Miss Johns." "I know. It's awful. But she must have known how bad she really is. Why Doreen admits that she is frightened of the ball. Frightened! A coward and nothing more."

"Yes, she certainly is a coward. And now she thinks she's 'just it/ being in the team. I say, look—" she broke off, pointing down the drive.

There, dancing from one side of the drive to the other, was Doreen, screaming at the top of her shrill voice. "Hello, what's the fun t" cried the two girls as they ran to the scene of distress. "Look out. It'll bite," she cried, pointing to the bushes close by. ""What? The bushes?" asked Pat, with mock surprise. "Oh, don't. You horrid things. Can't yon see it? Oh!" she screamed as they saw a tiny frog hop from under a rosemary bush. "Oh, the darling," cried Vera. "Surely you are not afraid of this, are you?" But she was talking to air, for Doreen had fled. "Well!" said Pat, wonderingly. "What a girl! So balls aren't the only things she's frightened of." So, from tha,t day on, Doreen was known as "The Prog." Whether she Eked it or not was not known, but in the end it brought her unexpected happiness. The school term was ended, and a little group of Chiltern College girls were .leaning over the rails of tho steamer on their homeward journey They were all talking eagerly of the holidays. "My, won't it be good to get away from school for a bit " said Pat Sterne. "Rather, and the Frog," volunteered Mary Cray. "les. I think I have seen more of that kid than any of you this term, for Miss Johns had me coaching her in cricket. I wonder what she is doing now. Perhaps keeping a froggery!" said Pat in a sarcastic tone. The others laughed at this, for they all knew of the episode with the frog. As they were laughing and joking about the Prog a loud splash was heard in the sea just below the spot where the girls were standing. As they turned they noticed that Pat, who had been sitting on the rails, was now nowhere to be seen. For a moment they stood spellbound. Man overboard!" shouted someone from the depths of the evening. Almost immediately there was a second splash, and a strong swimmer struck out towards the drifting form of Patricia. The ship was stopped, and a lifeboat was lowered over the side. Soon the crew had both Pat and the rescuer on board again. As Vera flashed her torch on the two white faces she beheld Pat—and the Frog! "The Frog!" breathed all the girls, together. ' |

"Yes, it'a me," said the Frog, who had hy this time recovered from the shock. "But I did not really want you to know I was here." Really the Frog was an extraordinary girl! Next day, as the gangway was lowered, Pat faced Dorecn quietly. Holding out her hand she looked Doreen steadily in the eyes. '"Doreen, I want to thank you for what you did last night. I honestly did not think you had the pluck. 1 know 1 have been a perfect cad to you ever since you came to school, but I hope you wintry to forget it. As a reward for your ♦bravery I can give you nothing but this," she said as she put something hard in Doreen's hand, '"And if you care to have her there will be a' very lirm friend awaiting you at Chiltern next year." A deep flush crept into Doreen's face, and it seemed to change before Pat's gaze, losing the weak, lonely look and taking on a look of friendship and happiness. "Oh, I shall be so happy at Chiltern now," said Doreen, as she opened her hand and beheld a tiny greenstone frog. She knew that this would bind their friendship for ever.