منتديات المُنى والأرب

Hector Hic Hop

By
Liz Flynt

Deep in the rain forest of Brazil lived a little green frog named Hector. He lived with his mother, father and four big brothers in a tiny village called Toadtown. He had all the toys a frog could ask for and lots of playmates, but Hector was very unhappy.
“I’m bored.” He would pout. “Nothing ever happens around here.” His mother tried everything to cheer Hector up. She bought toys, gave parties, flew kites, played ball and took Hector to the movies, but still he wore a frown. “I wish that just once something exciting would happen.” He complained.
One day, just as Hector and his family sat down to breakfast, Hector hopped out of his chair. “Where are you going, it’s time to eat.” Said his mother. His only reply was “Hic Hop!”
Hector had the Hic Hops. Every time he Hicced, he Hopped and he could not stop. He Hic Hopped out the front door and started down the road. “Hector, stop!” Called his father. “He’s Hopping away, We’d better follow him!” The neighbors called “We’ll help!” and fell into line.
Hector was soon headed down the mainstreet of Toadtown. He, his family and neighbors Hic Hopped right through three red stop lights, trampled the mayors new lawn and stopped traffic for miles. The chief of police was furious. He called a meeting of the Toadtown police and ordered, “Get those troublemakers or don’t come back.” They joined the growing crowd behind Hector. His Hic Hopping was getting faster and faster and try as they may no one could catch him.
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The coolest frog in Toadtown, Coolhop Jones, heard the noise as the procession passed his home. He watched for a minute and realized that a wonderful new dance had been discovered, “The Hic Hop.” He ran to tell his friends the good news and together they Hic Hopped after Hector.
It wasn’t long before the entire population of Toadtown was hopping after Hector. Frogs who weren’t chasing Hector were chasing each other. Parents were chasing children. Boys were chasing girls and the girls were chasing Coolhop Jones. Shop owners were chasing their workers, who were chasing everyone else to see who they were chasing. Things were getting out of hand.
Hector led them out of town and on to the next village. When the mayor of Ribibitsville saw 3000 frogs approaching he decided it must be a riot. He telephoned the governor, who called in the army, but still no one could catch Hector. Ribbitsville, like Toadtown, was soon deserted. The frogs had joined the chase leaving only abandoned cars and houses.
Frogs filled the roadways and fields, as the procession moved out of town. Suddenly Hector changed directions and headed straight for Don’t Jump Bluff, the highest point in all of Frogland. The frogs were frightened. They knew the bluff rose to a peak overlooking a long drop to jagged rocks below. “We’ll be killed.”, they croaked, but not one could stop. Curiosity was too great and they had to go on.
The frogs followed Hector up the side of the bluff, struggling as the climb grew harder. Over rocks, through ditches and around trees they hopped. They were hot and tired. Even Coolhop Jones complained, “Oh Man, this Hic hop dance is killin’ me!” as he mopped his forehead. Still, no one wanted to be left behind.
Finally, after hours of Hic Hopping Hector landed with a “plop” on the very tip top of Don’t Jump Bluff. His 10,000 followers stopped behind him and looked upward to where Hector sat

He perched only inches from the bluff’s edge. Any movement might send him tumbling off the bluff, falling down, down, down to the rocks below. The horrified frogs held their breath, not wanting to startle Hector. Only his mother broke the silence, “Hector, no!” she screamed. Hector turned to look at her as if to speak but all that came out was “Hic” and over the edge he hopped.
Hector’s mother fainted and his brothers started crying. Pandemonium broke loose. Frogs were hopping everywhere, over, under and around each other trying to get to the top. They wanted to see what had happened to Hector. Those in the front were being shoved dangerously close to the edge of the bluff by the mob behind.
Suddenly a voice boomed out over the crowd, “Stop!”. It was Hector’s father. He sat high on the bluff staring at the mob below. They grew silent and watched as he turned and alone hopped to the edge of the bluff. With his heart in his throat, he looked over. Halfway down the drop off, he saw a sight he would never forget. A tiny tree had grown out of the rocks and dangling from it’s branches by the seat of his little red pants was Hector. The fall had frightened away the Hic Hops and for the first time that day, Hector was quite.
“He’s alive!” shouted Hector’s father. Hector’s family joined hands and hopped for joy. The word spread quickly among the other frogs and they, too, celebrated Hector’s narrow escape.
When the Toadtown Chief of Police heard the news, he called in a helicopter for the rescue. The frogs watched as the helicopter pilot lowered a rope, which Hector grabbed and tied around his waist. He yelled “Ready” And the helicopter lifted him up and over the cheering crowd. “Hurrah for Hector!” they shouted. A tired Hector waved and smiled to his fans.
The helicopter lowered him into a clearing, where his family waited. They and the 10,000 frogs on the bluff began their long journey back to their jobs, homes and families; tired, but happy that all had ended well.
That day became known in Frogland history as The Day Hector Got The Hic Hops and was talked about for years to come. Hector’s mother decided that at least some good had come from Hector’s adventure. He never said, “I’m bored”, again