In the tall grass at the edge of a pond sat a very unhappy bullfrog. "Bully-what a terrible name," he croaked. "it has brought me nothing but trouble."

A newt paddled by. "Hello," said the newt. "What is your name?"

"Bully," croaked the frog in a raspy voice.

"Bullies are mean!" cried the little newt. And he ran away.

Bully sighed. As he kicked across the water he saw a school of minnows. "Hi, little minnows. Do you want to race?"

The minnows loved racing. They eagerly gathered around until one cried, "I heard Sunfish call this frog 'bully.'"

Before Bully could explain, the minnows had scattered. Even Toe Biter, the giant water beetle, paddled away.

"How can I make friends if no one gives me a chance?" Bully croaked to himself.

There was one creature in the pond that was not afraid of him. It was Cruncher, the snapping turtle. Cruncher admired Bully's size and his plump, juicy looking legs.

As Bully floated near the pond's edge, he did not see Cruncher swimming swiftly and silently behind him, just below the water's shimmery surface.

"LOOK OUT!" called a high, piercing voice.

Without a moment to spare, Bully leaped and kicked and jumped clear out of the pond.

"Whew! That was close!" Then he called, "Thank you for the warning-whoever you are!"

"You are welcome," peeped a tiny reply.

Bully spotted the smallest frog he had ever seen.

"What is your name?" asked Bully.

"I would rather not say," said the tiny frog. "It is silly."

"Please tell me," said Bully. "It cannot be as bad as my name."

"Well..." the little frog paused, "I am spring peeper, so they call me... Peep."

A big smile spread across Bully's bulging cheeks.

Peep glared. "You think it is silly, too!"

"Oh, no," said Bully. "You were named for what you are. But that is not who you are. You are small but your voice is mighty."

Peep's glare turned into a great big smile. "What is your name?" he asked.

Bully sighed. "If I tell you, you will run away."

"Why would I do that?" asked Peep.

"Everyone does," said Bully. "That is why I have no friends."

"I promise," said Peep.

the bullfrog took a deep breath. "My name is... Bully."

the little peeper shrugged. "You were named for what you are. But that is not who you are. You are very nice."

Bully smiled happily. He and Peep became best friends.

The other creatures drew closer to see Bully's new "hat." When they saw that the hat was really a happy little spring peeper, they were not afraid of him anymore.

In the evenings the peeps and croaks of newfound friendship danced on the warm night air.