The toad and the dragonfly often sat on the shore of the lake. They talked about the world and what it was like. The toad knew all things below the surface of  the water and often told the dragonfly of a great fish - a strange creatures that lived deep down on bottom of the pond where he lived. The dragonfly knew all there was to know and had seen all there was to see in the sky, in the trees and on the ground. He told the toad of treetops so high that the toad could hardly understand it, and of birds and bushes, and deer and squirrels.

                                One day the two friends sat on the shore of the lake and talked about how they knew everything there was to know about everything above and below. They were so happy and so proud, and complimented each other for their skilful observations. Since they had seen everything there was to see and been everywhere there was to be, the two friends had nothing new to tell each other whenever they met. This is why they always sat and bragged about their achievements, complimenting each other shamelessly:

Toad: "Oh my dear dragonfly! I thank you for telling me about all those places that were unknown to me. Without you I would not have known all about everything."

Dragonfly: "Oh no! It is I who should thank you for swimming down below and returning to tell me all about what the underwater world is like. It seems your ability to observe is better and more developed than the abilities of any other creature in the forest."

Toad: "That may be true but I would not have been able to learn all about the world above, if it was not for your ability to fly and observe all details on the ground; you are truly an expert!"

And so they went on for hour and hours, and it seemed as though they were ready to burst with pride at any moment.

                                One dark night the dragonfly had fallen asleep in the highest treetop there was in the entire forest, and then.. suddenly.. a great ray of light hit the dragonfly. It woke up and found itself starring at the moon. "What a beautiful moon" thought the dragonfly to itself and smiled, but suddenly it jumped up screaming hysterically: "Oh no! I don't know what the moon is. I have never been on the moon and I have never been able to understand what the moon actually is!!" With a troubled mind the dragonfly laid itself down and fell asleep.

                                The next morning the dragonfly hurried down to the lake to talk to the toad about the terrible thing he had realised:

Toad: "My dear dragonfly; what is the matter with you today? You are not pleased at all; that is easy to see, but how can this be?"

Dragonfly: "I am sorry to say that I have realised that we don't know everything there is to know about the things above."

Toad: "What!! How can this be? Please tell of this thing that you cannot see."

Dragonfly: "Well, it is the moon that I cannot see, that is.. I can only see it from a distance like you can. I must admit; I have not been there, and I do not understand what the moon is. I assume you don't understand it either?"

Toad: "You are right in your assumption! Now that I think about it, I realise that I do not know what the moon is. What are we going to do?"

Dragonfly: "Since I have never been to the moon, it seems we can only guess at what the moon really is."

Toad: "I've got it! Could it not be quite possible that the moon is a hole in the sky? When the sun disappears and the black night covers us, one can see through the black night through a hole, which we call the moon, into the light that shines behind it."

Dragonfly: "No, no, no! I believe the moon is the sun, taking a nap! It must be hard work to produce so much light, and I bet the sun needs to rest just like everyone else."

Toad: "Yes..that is another possibility, but haven't you noticed that the moon is incomplete from time to time. It seems as though someone sometimes takes a bite of the moon, but nevertheless, the moon is full from time to time."

Dragonfly: "Yes that is strange indeed! I wonder who takes a bite of the moon from time to time. Do you think that it is possible that the moon is very tasty?"

Toad: "Well, it must be, but I still think that the moon is a hole in the sky. The explanation to the changing appearance of the moon must be that the hole is a door, which is sometimes completely open, and sometimes almost completely shut."  

Dragonfly: "I tend to disagree with you, but I certainly value your opinion. We could both be right and I guess there is only one way to find the answers to these question that obstruct our complete perfection as observers. As it is my sworn duty to investigate all things above, I will fly to the moon or perish in the attempt to do so!!!"

Toad: "You are truly great. I am so proud to have known you my dear, respectable, and courageous dragonfly."

Dragonfly: "Yes...Well, I expect my departure will be at hand the next time the moon is full.

Toad: That is a good idea. The door must be open when you get there, so that you can get through to see what is on the other side."

Dragonfly: "Please remember that we have nothing but theories on what the moon really is, but fear not! I will return with an answer for this terribly unanswered question. I swear it!"

And so the two friends talked of the journey which the dragonfly was about to take.

                                When the night sky finally covered the forest the toad and the dragonfly saw that the moon was full. The dragonfly said goodbye to his friend and flew towards the moon until his friend the toad could no longer see him. For four days the toad waited for the dragonfly's return but he never came back. Still, the toad was happy for it believed that the dragonfly had found the moon to be a door that led to a wonderful place. So wonderful a place that the dragonfly never wanted to come back. The toad smiled secretly. He was so happy on behalf of his very good friend the dragonfly.