SWANSEA, MA, USA. If you love a good mystery, this story is for you! One spring day, Gertrude and John Knight, both 67, were working in their yard. They noticed that the ten-pound cement frog in their garden was gone. "I thought some kids ripped it off," said John.
But several weeks later, John began to change his mind. The Knights got a strange postcard that said, "I'm sick of sitting in your garden. Had to get away. Love, the Frog."
Then the Knights got a letter from New York. "Dear Ma and Pa, I'm in New York! I should be back by Christmas. I'll write again soon!" Inside tha letter was a photo of the frog at a New York subway station.
For the next eight months, cards and pictures arrived from around the world. The Knights heard from the frog in Indonesia, Sweden, and Italy. A letter from Paris said, "Hi Mom and Dad, Can't stay here too long. They eat frog legs!" Finally, the frog dropped them a line from Japan, which said "I'll catch you later, around Christmas."
Sure enough, just before Christmas, the globe-trotting frog arrived home in a limousine. There was also champagne and a letter for the Knights. "Thanks for being good sports!" it said. The Knights don't have a clue who took the frog. But they sure got a kick out of this adventure!
New Idioms and expressions:
- globe trotting---traveling around the world
- rip something off/rip someone off---steal sth/ steal from someone
- change one's mind---change one's opinion or point of view
- be sick of something---be tired of; be bored with something
- get away---leaves one's daily routine; go on vacation
- be back---be again where you were before
- hear from someone---recieve a phone call, letter, or e-mail from someone
- drop someone a line---write a short letter to someone
- I'll catch you later---I'll see you later
- sure enough---as expected
- be a good sport---be able to laugh at jokes and pranks that involve you
- not have a clue---not know anything
- get a kick out of something---enjoy something a lot
Answer the Questions
About the Story..................................................
- What did John Knight think happened to the frog at first?
- When and why did he change his mind?
- According to the postcard, why did the frog have to get away?
- When did he promise to be back?
- For how long did the Knights continue to hear from the frog?
- What did the card from Japan say?
- When did the globe-trotting frog arrive home?
- What was the message in the letter?
- Do the Knights know who took the frog?
- How did they feel about his adventure?
- In your opinion, what kind of person took the frog?
About You...........................................................
- Do you like to get away? Where do you go?
- How often do you drop your friends and family a line? How often do you hear from them?
- What kinds of sports or adventures do you get a kick out of?
- Are you a globe-trotter (or would you like to be?)? tell about your travels (or your plans).
source: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1998/12/22/national/main25886.shtml?source=search_story
