Once upon a time, in the heart of the dense Ugandan jungle, where the foliage was so thick that even the sunlight struggled to penetrate, there lived a mysterious cedar-tree. This ancient cedar-tree, with branches that reached the heavens, was the dwelling place of a clever lizard known far and wide for his wit and charm.
This lizard, whose scales shimmered like emeralds in the dappled sunlight, decided one day to host a grand feast. He envisioned a gathering of the most remarkable creatures from the jungle, including his dear friend, a frog residing on a tiny island in the center of a serene pond.
The lizard, filled with excitement and hospitality, sent out invites to all the creatures of the jungle. As the day of the feast approached, the lizard realized a predicament – his dear friend, the frog, wouldn’t be able to make it to the treetop banquet. Frogs, you see, were not built for climbing, with their webbed feet more suited to the water than the towering branches of a cedar-tree.
Undeterred, the lizard devised a plan. “Fear not, my amphibious friend! I shall fashion a rope and hoist you up, so you may partake in the festivities!” declared the lizard with a gleam in his eye.
As the frog arrived at the base of the cedar-tree, the lizard, true to his word, secured a rope around the frog’s tail. However, the lizard’s excitement got the better of him, and he started pulling with such vigor that, to the shock of both, the frog’s tail popped off like a champagne cork, sending the poor amphibian plummeting to the ground below.
The frog, now tailless and filled with a seething rage, hopped away, vowing revenge on the reptilian trickster. Deep in the jungle, the frog plotted a scheme that would not only even the score but also leave a lasting mark on the lizard and his kin.
Seasons passed, and the frog decided it was time to extend an olive branch, or rather, a lily pad, to the lizard. “Come, dear lizard, let us put the past behind us. I invite you to a feast on my island,” called the frog with a sly grin.
Eager to mend their friendship, or perhaps blinded by the prospect of a feast, the lizard agreed. The frog, however, had a mischievous plan in motion. “Worry not about the water, my friend. I shall fashion a rope and tow you across as I swim,” assured the frog.
The lizard, unaware of the frog’s true intentions, agreed. As they embarked on their journey across the pond, the water grew colder, and the lizard’s nerves began to fray. Sensing the unease in his reptilian companion, the frog increased the pace, pulling harder and harder.
Suddenly, the rope snapped, sending the lizard flailing back to the shore. Gasping for breath and with the rope still tightly wound around his neck, the lizard looked back to the island, only to see the frog reveling in his triumph.
And so, the tale spread through the jungle, whispered among the leaves and echoed by the creatures who bore witness to the lizard and the frog’s thrilling saga. From that day forward, frogs in Uganda had no tails, and lizards boasted cheeks puffed out in eternal reminder of a friendship lost to laughter and revenge in the heart of the mysterious cedar-tree jungle.
