Bryan ran home. "Dad! Look!" he called excitedly. "I found the cutest pet in the river! I named him Hoppy. "
Dad had a closer look, "Oh, a frog! How handsome!"
"Do you think Hoppy will like it here?"
"Why don't you keep him for a while, and then we'll see how he's going. "
Bryan found a shoebox. Using a pen, he poked(戳)air holes in the top of the box. "Welcome to your new home. In you go, Hoppy. "
"Are you hungry?" Bryan asked. He lifted his frog out of the box and put some sandwich pieces in front of him. "Eat up, Hoppy. " Bryan watched. . . But Hoppy didn't eat. Bryan waited. . . Hoppy just sat and stared(瞪眼看). "Don't you like sandwiches?"
Bryan put Hoppy back in the box. "I think Hoppy's tired. I'm going to make him a comfortable bed. " Bryan cut the old newspapers into pieces and put them into the box. He put Hoppy on his new bed. "Are you cozy now? I'll tell a story to help you sleep. " When the story was over, Hoppy was still awake.
"Can't you sleep? Why?" Bryan asked. Hoppy just sat . . . and stared. Bryan didn't know what to do and sat thinking.
"How are you getting along?" Dad asked.
Bryan cried, "Hoppy doesn't want to eat or sleep. "
"Think about what he really needs. "
A little later, Bryan ran into the house looking for his dad. "Whoa!" said Dad. "What's the hurry? And where's Hoppy?"
"I took him back to the river, " Bryan said. "He was sure glad to be home! When I put Hoppy down, he jumped into the river, caught a fly and ate it. Then, guess what!"
"What?"
Bryan laughed. "Just before Hoppy jumped into the water, I think I saw him smile at me. "