“Whoa,” Aaron said. He clutched at the ground as though he wanted to get up and leave.
“It’s okay. They will listen. They will try. Please, show them your song.”
He played his metal box for about a minute before seeming to realize he’d have to go slower. Starting again and exaggerating each breath, he sounded the first eight notes and then stopped.
“Copy those sounds,” Ruby instructed.
The frogs all tried to comply at once, resulting in a cacophony. Also, it was clear to Ruby that they couldn’t hear the higher notes.
She asked whether Aaron could lower the pitch. He said he could but needed a different harmonica. When he returned the next day, Ruby explained to the frogs that they would have to coordinate; that each would be responsible for only select notes. When singing their own so
