Award Winning Short Story

My wife, Nazli Mohyuddin, is an aspiring author. A while back she won a short story contest with her children's tale "The Frog King and the Cricket".


Here is the story, and feel free to share this blog posting if you find the story interesting.


"The Frog King and the Cricket"

by

Nazli Mohyuddin


There once lived a Frog King who had everything any common frog desired. Lavish ballrooms. Musicians and court jesters. Beautiful libraries. And of course, royal jewels, gold, and silver. Still the Frog King was unhappy.

One warm summer night the Frog King lay asleep when he was awakened by a peculiar sound. It was music, the likes of which he never heard before. The music filled the air with sweet notes, and its harmony had a peacefulness about it that contented the Frog King to his heart’s core.

The next day, the Frog King discovered that the music belonged to a cricket who lived in a village nearby. The Frog King asked that the cricket be brought to his palace. And the following day, the Frog King met the cricket in his court. The king praised the young cricket for his music and asked that he join his court as one of his musicians immediately.

“I’m sorry,” said the cricket. “My music is not for sale.”

The Frog King was confused. In all his years as king he was never refused anything by anyone. And for a brief moment the idea of rejection angered him.

“I must misunderstand your intentions, young cricket, or else you must misunderstand mine. I wish to purchase you as well as your music that you may play for me and be deemed the most established and most honored court musician our country has yet to hear. This would be a great privilege and an honor for one as young as you.”

“You are most kind to compliment me thus, Sire,” said the cricket. “However, my answer must remain unchanged.”

“And why is that?” said the Frog King, his temper slowly rising.

“You see, Sire, though I play for the sake of music, I also play for everyone’s enjoyment, so whatever you hear and enjoy, is everyone’s right to hear and enjoy.”

The Frog King stood up from his throne. “This is an outrage—you mean to compare me to the common frog, do you? Do you not see the difference between me and them?”

“As far as I can see, Your Majesty, you are a frog who has a great many things—more than the frog who has less. But you are still a frog, are you not?”

The Frog King laughed arrogantly. “You are young, cricket. And perhaps for that reason a bit naïve. I do have a great many things more than the common frog, but what you fail to notice is that I am king of all frogs as well. As such I am entitled to the best of things because I can afford them. Perhaps, young cricket, you doubt the price I would pay for your musical talents?”

“Not in the least, Sire.”

“But you are unemployed. You own no property, you have no place to live—“
“Sire, I’m afraid you cannot put a price on truth, nor joy, nor one’s freedom. I am free for I am neither bound by property nor possession. I live in the earth and upon the trees. When it rains I drink freely from the ponds and lakes. And when the night settles in the joy in being fills my heart to its core, and it is then that I make music. Do you not see, my dear Frog King? It is only in my freedom that I sing and make music with such ease and beauty. Without my freedom my music would soon wither away and the same musical talents you admire today would cease to be.”

The Frog King pondered the cricket’s words.

“If this is the circumstance concerning your music, then you must allow me to visit you where you can play your music for me, but for me alone.”

The cricket bowed humbly in agreement, and the Frog King permitted him to leave.

The following evening, the Frog King visited the cricket in his village. He arrived with blaring trumpets that were enough to awaken all the villagers. Then he sat upon a golden throne.

“Play for me, cricket.”

The cricket made a humble bow, and began to play music.

At the first, the Frog King felt nothing. Then a gentle tremor entered his heart. He closed his eyes. He felt he was traveling over lush green hills, flying over sparkling lakes and finally the mighty ocean itself. The king opened his eyes, and for the first time in a long time felt his anger and arrogance dissolve. He felt his heart open and close, as though it was breathing again after several years. Feeling light and carefree, the king stood up. Without knowing what he was doing, he began to dance to the cricket’s music. The king’s frogs were dazed, and the villagers expressed their amazement in hushed whispers. Their king appeared transformed, so light and agile were his graceful movements. The king danced and danced. Then a timid little frog approached the king, and the villagers held their breath. The king peered into the eyes of the little frog, who looked up earnestly at him. Then the king took the little frog by her hand and began to dance with her. The villagers exclaimed in cheers.

At once, the entire village was on its feet. They never felt such joy, such concord amongst each other. The king didn’t know what magic had befallen him and the villagers. Never in his life did he feel so free. Then he stopped suddenly in his tracks. He looked about him and the crowd of dancing villagers, in search of the cricket. He found him nestled deep in the grass, absorbed in his music.

“Cricket,” he said quietly. “I was mistaken. I’ve been king for so many years, that I’m afraid I forgot who I was. But what is all this? What is this music? I fear you have cast a spell on me.”

“It is no spell, Sire,” answered the cricket. “As you said yourself, you are only now beginning to remember who and what you are. There is great joy in that memory. And it is because of that joy, you dance. That is all.”
After the festivities subsided, the Frog King returned to his palace. He reflected on the day’s events and the cricket’s words to him. He went to bed thinking he would find it difficult to sleep after all the excitement. But as soon as the Frog King shut his eyes the sweet melodies of the cricket’s music rang in his ears and entered his heart again. He fell asleep with only one understanding: tomorrow was a new beginning.



The story can also be found on the website for Character Entertainment."The Frog King and the Cricket." I hope you enjoyed the story!


The author, Ben W. Koyl, is an attorney located in Chicago, IL. He is the principal of the Law Office of Ben W. Koyl, P.C. with offices located in the Chicago Loop, Beverly Woods / Blue Island, and Joliet, IL. The firm's website is http://www.chicagobklaw.com.