The time to return to the castle was fast approaching and Kyle was already thinking of curling back up on his favorite recliner with a good book. If you will help me fetch my ball." The prince agreed, though he did not take the frog's request very seriously especially on the 'love' part, but thought that the rest was within his means to provide. "I don't need any Jewels or gold, but if you will love me and let me be your companion and playmate, sit down with you at the table and eat off your plate, drink out of your cup and sleep in your bed, if you can promise me all of these, then, I will dive down and retrieve your golden ball." "Frog, I can give you the finest jewels, riches, anything you would wish for that is within my ability to procure." The prince offered what he hoped was a generous enough consideration. Kyle was careful in accepting his offer, for in his country, making promises to men were dangerous, because no matter how big or small, all promises were final and binding by law, but what was the worst a frog could do? It was exactly like how one would expect a frog to sound, if frogs could speak. How about we make a trade? I'll fetch you the ball in return for a few favors." The frog spoke in a voice that was flat and nasal. The realist in him was telling him that this talking frog was an elaborate hoax, but then again, he could use a miracle to stave off his parents' wrath for losing his expensive birthday present. "Is that coming from you, frog?" Kyle's immediate thoughts were that it could not be possible. Leaning back so that the sunlight reached its depths, he observed a frog stretching his head out of the water, watching him intently. Just then, Kyle noticed that the voice was coming from the inside of the well.
"Well, I would offer to help, but you've got quite an attitude for someone who needs it." " Thanks for your astute observations, but I’m not littering. Without missing a beat and turning around, Kyle told off the bystander for his wrongful assumptions. "Being a prince doesn't give you the right to litter", a haughty voice called out as the redheaded prince leaned over the edge of the well, trying to come up with a solution to his problem. The young prince could not see any hints of gold in the water or where the bottom of the well ended and he grew increasingly distraught. The golden ball splashed down, sinking into the murky well water instead of landing back into his hands. This time, he was a few seconds too slow to intercept it. His preferred form of play was to sit at the edge of the well and throw the golden ball up into the air and catch it again while projecting its downwards trajectory. On warm summer days, the prince traipsed into the woods to play near a willow tree, under which an ancient stone well resided. His parents, out of concern for his well-being, commissioned a golden ball for his birthday to encourage him to play outside for a few hours each day. But, the prince preferred to stay indoors and study dusty tomes by the fireside. All who saw him were enchanted every time he came out into the sunshine. The youngest prince was so fair and brilliant that he turned heads once with his beautiful appearance and once more with his sharp wit. Long ago, in a distant kingdom, there lived a King whose children were all exceptional.