In a sunny kingdom, not too far from here, lived a princess who had everything a princess could wish for. Her most favorite toy was a beautiful, shiny golden ball.

One warm afternoon, she was playing by a deep, cool well in the palace garden. Up, up, up went the golden ball, and SPLASH! Oh dear, it tumbled right into the water. The princess started to cry. "My golden ball! My beautiful ball!" she wailed.

Suddenly, a little green frog popped its head out of the well. "Ribbit! What's the matter, Princess?" it croaked.
"My ball!" she sobbed. "It's lost in your well!"
"I can get it for you," said the frog. "But what will you give me in return?"
"Oh, anything!" cried the princess. "My prettiest jewels, my sparkly crown!"
"I don't want jewels or a crown," said the frog. "I want a friend. Promise me you'll let me eat from your little golden plate, drink from your little golden cup, and sleep on a soft pillow next to your bed."
The princess thought, "What a silly frog! How could he ever leave the well?" So she quickly said, "Yes, yes, I promise!"

The frog dove down and, in a moment, came back up with the golden ball. The princess was so happy! She snatched the ball and ran back to the castle, completely forgetting the little frog.

The next day, as the princess sat down to dinner with her father, the King, there was a little knock at the door. Tap, tap, tap. Then a little voice called, "Princess, open the door for me! Remember your promise by the well so green!"
The princess peeked and saw the frog! She slammed the door shut and ran back to the table, her face pale.
"What's wrong, my dear?" asked the King.
She told him all about the frog and the promise she had made. The King looked very serious. "A promise is a promise, daughter," he said. "You must keep your word. Let him in."

So, the princess opened the door. The frog hopped in, plip-plop, plip-plop, right to her chair. "Lift me onto the table," he said. She did, but she didn't look happy at all.
"Now push your little golden plate closer so I can eat with you," said the frog. She did, making a face.
He ate his fill, and then he said, "I'm thirsty. Let me drink from your little golden cup." She let him, but she really, really didn't want to.
Finally, the frog yawned. "I'm tired now. Carry me to your room so I can sleep on a soft pillow, as you promised."
The princess shivered. "Sleep with a cold, slimy frog? Yuck!" But the King gave her a stern look, so she knew she had to.

She carefully picked up the frog, trying not to touch him too much, and carried him to her room. She put him on a pillow in the corner.
But the frog croaked, "I want to sleep on *your* pillow, like you promised!"
This was too much for the princess! She was so cross and a little bit scared. She grabbed the frog and – oh dear – she didn't mean to be so rough, but she sort of tossed him towards the wall.

But instead of a splat, there was a flash of light! And standing there was not a frog, but a handsome young prince with kind eyes!
The prince smiled. "An evil witch turned me into a frog," he explained. "Only a princess's promise, even one she didn't want to keep at first, could break the spell. Thank you!"
The princess was very surprised, and a little bit sorry for being so grumpy to him.
The King was delighted to hear the news. Soon, the princess and the prince became good friends. And when they grew up, they got married and lived happily, always remembering the importance of keeping a promise.

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