The morning seemed brighter than it usually was. Perhaps it was because it was the first sunny day after a series of rainy ones. Perhaps it was because the clouds were out of sight for once. Or perhaps it was because it was Leyna's fifteenth birthday.

Indeed, Leyna's name meant "light," so perhaps the sunny day was fitting for her special day. In society's eyes, Leyna was now officially a woman. At last, she was grown-up, just like the rest of her sisters. How time went by so quickly, and yet, Leyna still had much growing up to do. She looked like a young woman, certainly, but her mind was still a child's mind. She still had so much of the world to see, so much to take in...

"Good morning!" a voice rang out, disturbing Sonja's train of thought.

The voice was that of her sister, Ida, who was known to be rather boisterous in the morning. Ida crept over to her bedside and, gazing over her, asked, "Why are you still in bed?"

"I'm thinking," said Sonja.

"About what?"

"About Leyna."

"Well, Leyna's already up. And so are Vanessa and Augusta. Even father's awake. The only one who isn't out of bed is you, silly."

Sonja carefully got up. "Yes, it is I, silly Sonja, ready to start the day anew."

Ida laughed. "Have you gotten a gift for Leyna?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't I? Have you?"

"Of course. I didn't forget. I never forget birthdays, remember?"

Sonja grinned. "Do you mind stepping out of my room so I can change?"

"Not at all. Just don't be surprised if father gives you his stare of death at the breakfast table."

As Sonja stepped out of bed, she rolled her eyes. Her father's "stare of death," as she and her sisters sarcastically named, was actually not that horrible, but they all knew that he was monitoring them whenever he gave it, which was enough to keep them from behaving badly.

Once Ida had left, Sonja changed into her daytime dress. Under her bed was a small covered box, which Sonja took with her. Before making her way to the dining table, she placed the box in a large hall where Leyna's presents were. Already, there were a few. She set the box in the room and left to the dining table.

"Good morning," Sonja said, greeting her father as she entered the room.

"Good morning, dearest," said the king. "Fashionably late again, are you?"

"It won't happen again, Father," said Sonja.

"You always say that," said Vanessa, taking a sip of tea. Her sisters laughed at the comment.

Sonja shyly smiled and went to Leyna. "Happy Birthday," she said, kissing her on the cheek. Leyna beemed as Sonja went to her seat at the table.

"Oh, I was just talking about my presents, Sonja," said Leyna. "I wonder how many presents I have today. I think I may have gotten a new horse, but no one will tell me. Or perhaps a new music box, or a looking glass...oh Sonja, won't you tell me what you got for me?"

"Certainly not," said Sonja. "It's a surprise."

"That's what everyone else said," grumbled Leyna. "Even father refuses to tell me."

"You'll see when the time is right," said the king.

The five princesses and the king finished their breakfast, and when they were done, they went their separate ways. The king went to speak to his servants about the birthday celebration that he was planning for his daughter. Dozens of important people in the land were invited to the occasion, and the king wanted to make sure the palace and celebration arrangements were in order. As for the princesses, each went to entertain themselves. Leyna went to play with whatever toys and trinkets she had. Augusta went to play the piano, with Vanessa singing alongside her. Ida and Sonja went to the garden to make bouquets for the birthday party.

At long last, the birthday celebration came. The important people invited to share in the event made their way to the king's splendid ballroom. Food was served and dances were held. Everyone spoke to and commented on the king's daughters, especially the birthday girl, who was considered the prettiest of them all.

When the gift-giving was to commence, a servant made the announcement. Everyone gathered around young Leyna, who was at a table surrounded by the various gifts which had been brought to the ballroom by the servants. One by one, Leyna opened the present, each resulting in oohs and aahs-or sometimes rare murmurs of confusion if it was a strange or unusual gift (one being an elephant's foot).

It was then time for Leyna to open Sonja's gift. Leyna carefully opened the small wrapped box with her slender fingers. With a gasp, Leyna took out the gift inside-a small violet book with a quill of the same color.

"A journal!" Leyna remarked in wonder. She had always wanted one, but she somehow never came around to asking for one. Now, Sonja thought, she would be able to pour all her funny little secrets and daily adventures in there.

"Thank you," Leyna said to Sonja, who stood smiling at her sister. Leyna then proceeded to open her other sisters' gifts. From Ida, a silk scarf, from Vanessa, a bracelet, and from Augusta, a set of watercolor paints.

Then came their father's gift. A box, one much smaller than the other ones she had received, was now in Leyna's possession. She carefully opened the box to reveal a marvelous golden...ball.

Leyna simply squealed in delight. "Oh Father, it's wonderful. I love it!" She promptly picked it up and threw it in the air, catching it in her hands as it came back down. The guests chattered with vigor. This ball was made with the finest gold in the kingdom. In their eyes, the ball was a gem. To Leyna, of course, it was a toy, and a wonderful one at that.

Sonja shook her head, grinning in the process. Her father had often thought that Leyna, his precious little girl, was to be a child forever, so he would keep giving her playthings. Leyna, of course, indulged in these items. This ball, however, indicated that he had really gone too far this time. But Sonja decided not to complain. After all, it was her sister's birthday. She deserved to celebrate any way she wanted.

Leyna played with her golden ball the next day. And the next. She adored it-all of her fancy clothes and jewels and other gifts could wait, but the ball could not.

"Such a funny gift," said Vanessa to her other three sisters in the parlor. "She could have anything, and still she chooses to play with that little ball."

"Oh let her," said Ida, who by now had realized that Leyna was not going to be distracted by anything else but her ball. "It's her gift, after all."

"But she's inviting all her friends to play with it too!" said Augusta. "Sonja, what do you think of all of this?"

"It's funny, indeed," said Sonja, "but she's young. Let her play with her friends." With that, Sonja returned to her book.

"Speaking of friends," said Augusta, "did you know that many young men are lining up to have her hand?"

"Yes, Augusta," said Ida. "Oh, I do hope she gets married. I want to be a bridesmaid badly!"

"So do I!" said Vanessa.

Sonja merely went back to reading her book. Let her sisters discuss weddings. Frankly, she didn't think she was eligible to join the conversation.

A day later, at lunch, Leyna asked if she could go out into the nearby woods. Her sisters immediately knew what she wanted to do: play with her golden ball all by herself. The king gave Leyna his permission, as he knew that the woods were deep but carefully guarded by his soldiers.

While Ida, Vanessa, and Augusta took up reading in the study, Sonja decided to have a conversation with her father, the king.

"Father," said Sonja, "I'm worried about Leyna. Why must you insist on treating her like a child all of the time? She's a young woman now, and she time to develop."

"I'm afraid you're right, my dear," said the king, sighing. "Fifteen years-they pass so quickly. But I don't know what to do now."

"Don't be afraid to be firm with her. Remember what you once told me-that you scold us because you want us to grow into healthy young women. Well, I know you want Leyna to be one as well."

"Oh, I remember seeing you all as young girls, alongside your mother as well, bless her soul," said the king.

"Don't worry about us, Father," said Sonja. "We will get by. You've taught us well."

"I hope so!" the king replied. "Fine-from now on, I will expect more from Leyna. Less gifts, more etiquette reminders..."

"And more kept promises, Father," said Sonja. "Breaking promises is one of her worst habits, and it has irritated not only myself but also many of her friends."

"Then she will never break a promise again," said the king resoundly.

Leyna was tossing her golden ball up and down in glee as she entered the palace. She went into the parlor with the rest of her sisters. By then, Sonja was there, reading as well.

"How nice you all look, huddled in your chairs," Leyna laughed.

"Won't you join us?" said Ida. "Or will you be too busy playing with your golden ball again?"

"I think I'll sit down. I've been walking around for some time." With that, she sat in one of the chairs. Ida winced. Sonja smirked to herself at Ida's failed attempt to insult her sister.

Augusta, who was in the chair next to Leyna's, noticed a big, wet spot on Leyna's dress. "What's that splotch on your dress?" said Augusta.

"Oh, that?" said Leyna, quickly folding her skirt in to conceal it. "Just a bit of water I spilled on me."

"Leyna, you know that water stains silk, don't you?" said Vanessa.

"I know," said Leyna. "It was an accident."

"Let me see the stain," said Vanessa.

"No, it's nothing," said Leyna quickly. However in a flash Vanessa had gotten up and pinched Leyna's skirt. "Stop!" Leyna shrieked.

"What is going on?" Sonja asked, putting down her book.

The moment Vanessa touched the stain, however, she withdrew her hand in shock. "Ugh, it's sticky!" she said. "What was in that water?"

"I...I don't know," said Leyna.

"What were you doing in the woods, Leyna?" asked Sonja.

"Playing with my ball, for real!" exclaimed Leyna. "It's just some water I spilled, that's all."

"When?" asked Sonja.

Immediately, Leyna started to yell. "Stop asking me questions!" she shrieked. "You always have to ask me questions, Sonja! You're not Mother, you know!" With that, Leyna ran out of the room in tears.

Ida glanced Sonja's way. "Wonderful, Sonja."

With a sigh, Sonja said, "I wasn't even cross. She's the one acting strangely."

"I wonder what happened in the woods," said Vanessa. At that point, Sonja asked herself the same thing.

By dinner, Leyna had gotten over her incident and was her chatty little self once again. Suddenly, there was a strange tapping sound.

"What is that?" asked Ida.

"It sounds like a knock at the door," said Vanessa.

"It couldn't be. It's too soft," said Augusta.

"We better check," said the king. With that, he asked one of the valets to open the door. In a few seconds, the valet returned with a confused look.

"Well, what is it?" asked the king.

"There's...someone singing on the other side of the door, Your Highness," said the servant. "He's asking for your youngest daughter."

Leyna turned pale but excused herself from the table to tend to her guest. When she returned to the table, her pallor was worse than it was before.

"What is it, now?" said the king. "Some horrible giant come to capture you?" Sonja tried to hide the grin caused by her father's weak sarcasm.

"Oh, no, Father, it's only a frog," the princess quickly said. "But don't worry about him. He'll go away after a while."

"What is this about? Tell me."

Leyna did not say a word at first, but the king immediately gave her the "stare of death," forcing Leyna to say everything. "Oh Father, my golden ball dropped into the nearby well, and I couldn't get it out. Then, I saw that ugly little frog who offered to get it out for me in return for eating from my plate and drinking from my cup and sleeping in my bed. Naturally, I promised, of course, because I didn't think he really wanted to."

"You promised?" said the king.

"Yes, but I didn't really mean it, father," said Leyna. "It was only a little promise, after all."

The king gave Sonja a quick glance before looking back at Leyna. "A promise is a promise, and it must not be broken. You must repay the frog for his kindness." said the king firmly. To his servant, he said, "Bring the frog in."

Leyna let out an annoyed wail as the servant left. Sonja went back to eating her dinner. Leyna had always been rather bad at concealing things, and she had a feeling she would reveal it at the end. But this was different. It was as though Leyna had made up the whole story. But if she, indeed, had not, then...could it be?

The servant returned with the frog on a silken cushion.

"Good evening, Frog," said the king to the frog.

"Good evening, Your Majesty," replied the frog, his voice croaky and low.

"I understand that my daughter is indebted to you," said the king, "and that as a reward, you are to share her belongings, included her plate, cup, and bed."

"That is correct, Your Majesty," said the frog.

"Well, please make yourself at home," said the king. "Come and have dinner with us."

The king ordered his servants to place the frog besides Leyna. The four other princesses giggled at the strange arrangement.

"And to think, Leyna finally has a pet that can be with her at the table!" whispered Ida to Sonja, who was sitting beside her. But Sonja did not respond-she was too busy staring at the frog. Please, said Sonja silently, please do what you said you would do. Give me a sign.

"May I?" the frog asked Leyna, whose face was as red as a beetroot. At long last, she gave a small nod, and the frog at from the princess's plate wtih gusto, using his long red tongue to lap peas into his mouth, as though they were flies. Leyna was not pleased at all. Poor girl, thought Sonja. It's mad that she has to endure this. As the frog continued to lap up morsels of food, her other three sisters continued to laugh. Leyna glanced back at them angrily.

"Eat," said the king, silencing his daughters.

The frog then turned to Leyna's cup, which he started slurping out of. Leyna now looked positively ill, and Sonja was almost expecting her to fall out of her chair and faint. But she continued to focus her attention on the frog. Then, the frog asked, "If it isn't too much to ask, would you mind if I had a large bowl of water?" asked the frog. "I've come a long way, and my skin feels dry."

"Of course, Frog," said the king. "Please, bring a bowl of water."

One of the valets left and returned with a golden bowl with water inside. As soon as the bowl hit the table, he said to the valet, "Thank you." And then, he dived into the bowl and started padding about. This amused the king and the others to no end, with the frog doing the breaststroke around the bowl, doing funny flips now and then. The only one not amused by all of this was Leyna.

"I wish I had a frog like that," lamented Vanessa.

The frog then proceeded to lie on its back and kick in the water. It kicked so hard in Sonja's direction that soon, her face was splattered with water.

"My apologies," said the frog to Sonja. To Leyna, he said, "I told you I was a good swimmer, princess." Her only response was to roll her eyes.

Sonja carefully wiped the water that had been splashed on her face. Ida laughed at her sister, saying, "Quite a clumsy little thing, isn't he? At least he didn't get your dress wet."

"I'll live, Ida," replied Sonja. Even though her face was wet, her heart was satisfied.

Finally, after more water acrobatics, the frog got out of his little pool. "Well, that was wonderful," said the king. "Thank you for your performance, Frog,"

"The pleasure is mine," said the frog, delivering a bow to his small audience, who clapped in delight. The frog's eyes briefly met with Sonja's before darting his attention back to Leyna. At that moment, Sonja knew that her suspicions were confirmed.

As she left the table, the frog being left with Leyna, Sonja wondered what to do next. Would she see him again, and how would he find her if he decided that he wanted to see her? She decided, in the end, to continue to have whatever faith she had.

Poor Leyna was taking a while to return to her room. When Sonja was sure that everyone was in bed, including her and the frog, she opened her room door a small crack. She decided to comb her hair to pass the time, as she would be able to see him immediately if he came over. She began to doubt herself for being idealistic. How on Earth would he get out of her room anyways? Silly, silly Sonja. He would not be able to let himself out if the door was closed.

Just as she saw that, she heard a funny sound. A croak. Sonja looked up to see, indeed, the little green frog, crouched at the foot of the door. She could not believe it.

He had found her-just as he said he would.