A home for hoppy.

Bryan raced into the kitchen. "Dad! Look!" he called. The screen door bounced closed behind him. "I found the best pet at the creek!"

He held up a goggle-eyed bullfrog for his dad to see. "I named him Hoppy."

Dad bent down for a closer look. "Hello there, handsome," he said.

Bryan giggled. "Do you think Hoppy will like it here?" he asked.

Dad tousled Bryan's hair. "Why don't you keep him for a while, and then we'll see how he's doing."

"OK," said Bryan. "Come on, Hoppy. I'll show you my room."

Bryan searched his closet for a shoebox. Using a pen, he poked air holes in the top. On the sides of the box he wrote H-O-P-P-Y.

"Welcome to your new home," he said. "In you go, Hoppy."

"Lunch is ready!" Dad called from the kitchen.

Bryan ate his peanut butter sandwich, saving little pieces for Hoppy.

"Are you hungry?" Bryan asked. He lifted his frog out of the box and put the sandwich bits on the floor in front of him. "Eat up, Hoppy," he said.

Bryan watched ... Hoppy didn't eat.

Bryan waited ... Hoppy just sat and stared.

"Maybe he's not used to sandwiches," said Bryan.

"I'm sure you're right," agreed Dad.

"Let's play outside, Hoppy," Bryan said. "Maybe you need exercise."

In the sandbox, Bryan built an obstacle course. He made hills and tunnels with the sand. He used toys to make hurdles and walls.

Bryan explained the course to Hoppy. "First you jump here to there--then up and over--then one giant hop--TAA-DAAH!--to the finish line."

He put Hoppy on the starting line. "Ready? Get set ... GO!"

Bryan cheered ... Hoppy didn't move. Bryan cheered and clapped ... Hoppy sat and stared.

Bryan put Hoppy back in the box and carried him into the house. "I think Hoppy's tired," he told his dad. "I'm going to make him a cozy bed."

Bryan went to the closet where the old newspapers were kept. He tore strips of paper and scrunched them into the box. He put Hoppy on his new bed.

"Are you comfortable?" he whispered through the air holes. "I'll tell you a story to help you sleep."

When the story was finished, he lifted the lid carefully, just a tiny bit, and peeked inside. Hoppy was still awake.

"Can't you sleep?" Bryan whispered.

Hoppy just sat ... and stared.

Bryan sat, too. Holding Hoppy on his lap, Bryan sat thinking.

"How are you and Hoppy getting along?" Dad asked, passing by in the hall.

"Hoppy doesn't want to eat peanut butter," Bryan said. "He doesn't want to sleep in a box, either." Bryan jumped to his feet. "Come on, Hoppy," he said, "I know what you want."

A little later, Bryan raced into the house looking for his dad.

"Whoa!" said Dad. "What's the hurry? And where's Hoppy?"

"I took him back to the creek," Bryan said. "He was sure glad to be home!"

"How could you tell?" Dad asked.

"Well," said Bryan, "when I put Hoppy down, he jumped across three rocks to the middle of the creek. He caught a fly on his tongue and ate it. Then, guess what!"

"What?"

Bryan grinned. "Just before Hoppy jumped into the water, I think I saw him smile at me."