The Frog And The Condor

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Once, there was a frog that lived high up in the Andes Mountains. She lived by a beautiful, cool stream. Frog was not like other frogs. She was born with one leg twice as long as the other. She would see her reflection in the pond every day and say, “I wish I had been born perfect like my sisters.”

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Near the stream was a cave where a big, black condor lived. A very sad little girl also lived there. Her name was Collyur, which means “morning star”. She had been carried to the cave by the condor.

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The condor forced her to stay there. She had to keep his cave and nest clean. She had to beat his blankets and rugs. And she had to prepare huge feasts for him because he ate a lot.

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Frog would sometimes watch the condor flying high and then diving for his prey. Sometimes the Frog followed the condor home and watched the sad little girl Collyur.

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One day, Frog overheard the condor and the girl talking. The condor asked, "Did you do all of your work today?” The girl said, “Yes, sir. Now please, may I go back to the river to wash my clothes?" "Absolutely not!” said the condor. "You would try to escape!" The girl said, "No I would not. As long as you hear me beating my clothes on the rocks, you will know I am still there.” "

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Hmm,” said the condor. Very well. But be sure I hear you beating your clothes or I will fly there in a second and beat you myself!" So, Collyur carried her laundry to the stream and began to beat her clothes against the stones. As she beat them, she started crying. She had lost her freedom and her happy home, and now she was the condor’s slave.

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“Please do not cry,” said Frog. “I think I can help you.” “No one can help me," said Collyur. “I am his slave now.” Frog said, “I have a magic gift. I can take any shape, any form. I can change myself into you and continue beating the clothes while you run away.

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“Really? Really? Do you think it would work,” said Collyur, smiling for the first time in a long time. Then, she leaned over and kissed Frog right in the middle of her forehead. “We cannot wait,” said Frog. “Let’s do it now.”

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With that, Frog quickly took the shape of Collyur and began beating the clothes against the rocks. Collyur scrambled down the side of the mountain.

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Soon the condor noticed how long she was taking and he called for her to come back. “Hurry back you foolish girl! What is taking you so long?” he said. When she did not come back, the condor went to the stream to find her. There he saw Frog, the exact image of Collyur, beating clothes against the stones. “I told you to hurry,” shouted the condor, and he leaned in hard to grab her with his big talons.

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The girl in front of him jumped up and into the stream. “What are you doing?” yelled the condor. “Come back here!” But the girl had disappeared into the water. The condor flew close to the stream up and down, up and down, looking for her. But he could not find her. He flew back to his cave in a rage.

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Frog changed back and swam for a long time. He eventually found his brothers and sisters while swimming. When they saw her, they stopped and stared. Frog was afraid they were going to make a joke about her one long leg. But one of her sisters said, “You are so beautiful!” Frog looked at herself in the water. She saw a shiny, jewel in the middle of her forehead where Collyur had kissed her. Frog never worried about his long leg anymore.

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The Frog And The Condor

Page 14

Once, there was a frog that lived high up in the Andes Mountains. She lived by a beautiful, cool stream. Frog was not like other frogs. She was born with one leg twice as long as the other. She would see her reflection in the pond every day and say, “I wish I had been born perfect like my sisters.”

Page 15

Near the stream was a cave where a big, black condor lived. A very sad little girl also lived there. Her name was Collyur, which means “morning star”. She had been carried to the cave by the condor.

Page 16

The condor forced her to stay there. She had to keep his cave and nest clean. She had to beat his blankets and rugs. And she had to prepare huge feasts for him because he ate a lot.

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Frog would sometimes watch the condor flying high and then diving for his prey. Sometimes the Frog followed the condor home and watched the sad little girl Collyur.