The sacrifice of "Oshun"

The tale of Hugo the frog

"I agree! How about we tell another story, but this time, we'll make it a comedy instead of a tragedy. Are you ready?"

"Absolutely!" Ngozi said, already laughing. "I can't wait to hear what you come up with."

"Okay, here goes," Aja said. "Once upon a time, there was a frog named Hugo who was very proud of his beautiful green skin..."

"It's perfect!" Ngozi said. "Go ahead and start the story."

"Once upon a time, there was a frog named Hugo who lived in a pond," Aja began. "Every day, Hugo would sit on a lily pad and sing to his heart's content..."

"One day, as Hugo was singing his heart out, he heard a strange sound coming from the other side of the pond. It was a croaking sound, but it was much deeper and more resonant than Hugo's croaking. Curious, Hugo swam over to investigate, and what he saw took his breath away..."

"Oh no, what did he see?" Ngozi asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.

"It was another frog, but this frog was much larger than Hugo, and his skin was a deep green, almost black in color. The frog's eyes were like shiny black marbles, and when he croaked, it sounded like thunder rolling across the sky."

"Wow, this new frog sounds like quite the character," Ngozi said. "What did Hugo do when he saw him?"

"At first, Hugo was frozen in terror. He had never seen a frog so big or so powerful. But after a moment, he gathered his courage and swam closer to the big frog. 'Hello,' Hugo said, in his smallest voice. 'My name is Hugo. What's your name?' The big frog looked down at Hugo and croaked, 'My name is Thundarr. And I am the King of the Frogs.'"

"King of the Frogs!" Ngozi exclaimed. "What did Hugo do when he heard that?"

"For a moment, Hugo was speechless. He had never met a frog who claimed to be a king, and he wasn't sure what to do. But then he remembered his manners, and he bowed low to Thundarr, saying, 'Your Majesty, it's an honor to meet you.'"

"That was very polite of Hugo," Ngozi said, impressed. "What happened next?"

"Thundarr seemed pleased by Hugo's courtesy. 'You're a very polite frog, Hugo,' he said. 'Not many frogs would show such respect to the King of the Frogs.' Then he gave Hugo a sly smile and said, 'Since you're so polite, perhaps you'd like to come to my palace and have dinner with me and my court?'"

"A palace!" Ngozi exclaimed. "This story is getting more and more exciting! Did Hugo go with Thundarr?"

"After a moment's hesitation, Hugo decided to accept Thundarr's invitation. He followed the big frog to a clearing in the forest, where a magnificent palace made of lily pads and moss stood. 'Welcome to my home,' Thundarr said, with a grand sweep of his webbed hand. 'Please, make yourself at home.'"

"I can't believe Hugo is at the palace of the King of the Frogs!" Ngozi said. "What did he do when he got there?"

"As Hugo walked into the palace, he saw that the walls were covered in shimmering green slime, and the floors were made of soft, spongy moss. It was unlike any place he had ever seen before. Thundarr led him to a grand dining room, where dozens of frogs were feasting on flies and worms. 'Please, join us,' Thundarr said, gesturing to an empty spot at the table. Hugo sat down and began to eat, but he couldn't help feeling a little uneasy."

"I can imagine why Hugo would feel uneasy," Ngozi said. "What happened next?

"As Hugo was eating, he noticed that all of the other frogs were staring at him. He felt very self-conscious, and he tried to ignore them. But then, Thundarr leaned in close and whispered, 'You know, I have been looking for a frog just like you. A frog who is polite and respectful, who would make a fine addition to my court. Would you be interested in such a position?'"

"Oh my gosh!" Ngozi exclaimed. "What did Hugo say?"

"Hugo was surprised by Thundarr's offer. He had never thought of himself as someone who could be part of a royal court. But the more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. 'I would be honored to serve in your court,' he said to Thundarr. 'I will do my best to make you proud.'"

"That's so exciting!" Ngozi said. "But what kind of responsibilities would Hugo have as part of Thundarr's court?"

"The next day, Thundarr took Hugo on a tour of the palace, showing him all of the different rooms and explaining what each one was used for. He showed Hugo the treasury, where all of the kingdom's wealth was stored, and the armory, where the frog guards kept their weapons. Finally, he showed Hugo the throne room, where he held court every day. 'This is where you will spend most of your time,' Thundarr said. 'You will be my right-hand frog, helping me to rule the kingdom wisely and fairly.'"

"Wow!" Ngozi said. "That's a lot of responsibility! Was Hugo worried that he wasn't up to the task?"

"Hugo was definitely nervous about his new role," Ngozi said. "But he didn't want to let Thundarr down. He was determined to be the best right-hand frog he could be."

"I love Hugo's dedication!" Ngozi said. "But did he have any training for his new job?"

"The next day, Thundarr introduced Hugo to his royal advisor, a wise old frog named Blart. Blart was going to be Hugo's teacher, and he was going to help him learn everything he needed to know about being a right-hand frog. 'It won't be easy,' Blart said, 'but I know you have what it takes.' Hugo felt a bit more confident after meeting Blart, and he was ready to get to work."

"Blart sounds like the perfect teacher for Hugo," Ngozi said. "What was his first lesson?"

"Blart started with the basics, teaching Hugo about the history of the kingdom and the role of the royal court. He showed Hugo how to read and write in the frog language, and he taught him all about frog etiquette. Hugo was a quick learner, and he soaked up all of the information like a sponge. After a few weeks, he was feeling more confident in his new role."

"It sounds like Hugo was really taking to his new job!" Ngozi said. "Did he get to do any actual work yet?"

"Finally, after a month of studying and training, Thundarr asked Hugo to accompany him to his first court session. Hugo was nervous, but he remembered all of his lessons and did his best to act with the proper frog etiquette. He stood behind Thundarr's throne and listened as the king heard the petitions of his subjects. He watched how Thundarr made decisions and resolved conflicts, and he was impressed by the king's wisdom and fairness."

"Wow, Hugo is getting such a great education in how to be a royal advisor!" Ngozi said. "But was he actually able to help Thundarr with anything?"

"One day, while Thundarr was hearing the petitions of his subjects, Hugo noticed something strange. A young frog was trying to speak, but he was being interrupted and talked over by some of the other frogs. The young frog looked like he was about to give up, but Hugo saw something in his eyes - a look of determination and hope. Hugo couldn't stand by and watch the young frog be silenced, so he stepped forward and spoke up."

"No way!" Ngozi said. "What did Hugo say?"

"Hugo's star continued to rise, and before long, he was promoted to the position of Grand Vizier, the second-highest position in the kingdom. He was now responsible for managing the kingdom's affairs and helping Thundarr make important decisions. Hugo felt a sense of pride and accomplishment, but he also felt a sense of duty and obligation to serve the kingdom to the best of his ability."

"It sounds like Hugo has really made a name for himself!" Ngozi said. "But does he ever miss his old life, before he became a part of the royal court?"

"There were times when Hugo missed the simple pleasures of his old life. He missed going for long walks in the woods and swimming in the streams. He missed spending time with his friends, who were now busy with their own lives. But he knew that he had a greater purpose now, and he was determined to fulfill it. He was proud to be a part of something bigger than himself, something that was making a difference in the lives of the people."

"That's so inspiring!" Ngozi said. "But what about his personal life? Does he ever have time for romance?"

"It's true that Hugo's new position left little time for romance. He was often too busy with his duties to think about dating or relationships. But one day, as he was walking through the gardens of the palace, he caught sight of a beautiful young frog sitting on a bench, reading a book. Her skin was the color of a summer sky, and her eyes were like two pools of sapphire. Hugo felt something stir within him, something he had not felt in a long time. He knew he had to speak to this mysterious frog."

"Ooh, this is getting interesting!" Ngozi said.

"Hugo approached the young frog and introduced himself. 'Hello, my name is Hugo,' he said. 'What's your name?' The young frog looked up from her book and smiled. 'My name is Aisha,' she said. 'I'm new to the kingdom, and I'm still getting to know everyone.' Hugo was smitten with Aisha from the moment he laid eyes on her, and he found himself hoping that he could get to know her better. 'Maybe I could show you around?' he suggested. 'I know the palace and the city quite well.'"

"Aww, Hugo is falling for Aisha!" Ngozi said, a smile on her face. "Did Aisha accept his offer?"

"Aisha hesitated for a moment, then said, 'I would love to see more of the city, but only if you promise not to bore me with palace gossip!' Hugo laughed. 'I promise not to bore you with palace gossip, or any other kind of gossip!' he said. 'I'm just here to show you the sights and sounds of the city.' Aisha smiled and said, 'All right then, I accept your offer. Let's go on an adventure!' And so began their journey together through the city and beyond. Hugo showed Aisha all the best places to eat, drink, and explore. They had many adventures together, and they grew closer with each passing day. Hugo began to think that Aisha was the most wonderful frog he had ever met, and he began to wonder if she felt the same way about him."

"I'm starting to think that Hugo and Aisha are falling in love!" Ngozi said. "Do you think they'll end up together?"

"As the weeks turned into months, Hugo and Aisha's friendship deepened. They spent every moment they could together, exploring the city, sharing stories and secrets, and laughing until their sides ached. Hugo's heart began to swell with happiness, but he was too afraid to admit his feelings for Aisha. Then, one day, they were walking through the market when they saw a fortune teller sitting at a table, offering to read people's palms. Aisha turned to Hugo and said, 'Let's have our fortunes told!' Hugo hesitated. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know what the future held for him and Aisha. But Aisha insisted, so he agreed. They sat down at the table, and the fortune teller began to read their palms. After a few minutes, she looked up and said, 'You two share a special connection. You are destined to be together, but there is a shadow hanging over your future.' Hugo's heart sank. He looked at Aisha, and he could see the worry in her eyes. 'What do you mean?' he asked the fortune teller. She looked at him and said, 'I cannot tell you more. The future is not fixed. It is up to you to decide what path you take.' With that, the fortune teller packed up her table and left. Hugo and Aisha were left alone, staring at each other. 'What do you think she meant?' Aisha asked. Hugo took a deep breath. 'I think she meant that we can decide our own future,' he said. 'We don't have to listen to what she said. We can make our own destiny.' Aisha smiled. 'I like the sound of that,' she said. 'Let's go and make our own destiny, together.'" "And that is just what they did. Hugo and Aisha traveled far and wide, exploring new lands and meeting new people. They had many adventures together, and their love grew stronger with each passing day. The fortune teller's words faded from their minds, and they lived each moment to the fullest. And in the end, they realized that their destiny was not decided by fate, but by their own choices and actions. They had made their own destiny, and it was the most beautiful thing they could have imagined."

"And so, years later, as they sat on a beach, watching the sun set over the water, they held hands and looked at each other with a lifetime of love in their eyes. They knew that their lives had been full of adventure, love, and happiness, and they knew that they had made the right choice all those years ago. They had followed their hearts, and they had found a love that would last a lifetime. They had made their own destiny, and it was perfect." "And as the sun set below the horizon, they leaned in for a kiss, sealing their love with a promise that would last forever. 'I love you, Aisha,' Hugo said. 'I love you too, Hugo,' Aisha replied. 'And I wouldn't have it any other way.' They embraced, and as the sun set and the stars began to twinkle in the sky, they knew that they had truly made their own destiny." "And so, as their lives continued on, they never forgot the lesson they had learned. They knew that they could shape their own future, and they never let fear or doubt hold them back. They lived each day to the fullest, and they never took anything for granted. And whenever they looked at each other, they knew that they had made the right choice all those years ago. They had made their own destiny, and it was everything they had ever wanted."