It was a bright, sunny morning, and in a little cottage, a man and his wife were about to have a wonderful treat. A big, juicy, roasted chicken sat on their table, smelling absolutely delicious. Their tummies rumbled with excitement!

Just as the man picked up his knife and fork, ready to carve the first slice, he glanced out the window. Uh-oh! Who was that coming up the path? It was his very own father, looking old, a bit wobbly, and definitely like he could use a good meal.

Now, this son wasn't the sharing type, especially not with his prize chicken. "Quick!" he whispered to his wife, his eyes wide. "Hide the chicken! I don't want to give him any!" So, super fast, he snatched the chicken off the plate and popped it into a big clay pot, slamming the lid on tight.

When the old father knocked, the son opened the door just a tiny bit. "Hello, son," said the father, his voice a little weak. "I was just passing by. Is everything alright? It smells like something tasty in here."

"Oh, hello, Father!" the son said, trying to sound casual. "Everything's fine! We're just, um, cleaning! Yes, cleaning!"

The old father looked a little sad, nodded slowly, and turned away, continuing his journey without a bite to eat.

As soon as his father was out of sight, the son rubbed his hands together. "Right then!" he said to his wife. "Let's get back to that chicken!" He hurried to the clay pot and lifted the lid, expecting to see his golden-brown dinner.

But instead of the chicken, something else was in the pot. Something green and lumpy. With big, bulgy eyes. It was a TOAD! A huge, grumpy-looking toad, as big as the chicken had been!

Before the man could even shout, "Ribbit!" (or something less toad-like), the giant toad gave a mighty leap – SPROING! – and landed right on his face! SPLAT!

"Aaaah! Get it off!" he yelled, waving his hands. His wife tried to help, but that toad was stuck fast. It clung to his nose and cheeks like super-sticky mud.

From that day on, the man had a toad for a face-buddy. And the toad was always hungry. If the man didn't feed it tiny bits from his own plate, the toad would start to nibble on his nose or his chin! So, wherever he went, people would point and whisper, "Look! It's the man with the toad on his face!"

He couldn't hide his selfish act, because the toad was always there, a warty reminder. And so, the son who wouldn't share his chicken with his father had to share every single meal with a very demanding toad, for all the world to see. It just goes to show, being kind and sharing is always the best recipe!

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