The Lion and the Mouse

On the wide, golden grasslands, under a big acacia tree, a lion lay sleeping. He was the biggest, strongest lion of all, and his snore was like thunder. Rrrr... rrrr... A little mouse came scurrying by, looking for seeds. She was in such a hurry that she didn't look where she was going. Pitter-patter, up and over the lion's big paw she ran, and right across his nose!

The lion woke up with a big sneeze. "Ah-CHOO!" With one swift paw, he caught the little mouse by her tail. "Who dares to wake the king of the grasslands?" he roared. The little mouse trembled. "Oh, please, great Lion, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to wake you. Please let me go. If you do, maybe one day I can help you too."

The lion laughed so hard that the leaves shook on the tree. "Ho ho ho! You? Help me? A tiny little mouse, help a great big lion? That's the funniest thing I've heard all year!" But the lion was not hungry, and the mouse was very small, and she had said sorry so nicely. "Off you go, little one," he chuckled, and he opened his paw. "Thank you, thank you!" squeaked the mouse. "I won't forget!" And she ran away into the grass.

Some days later, the lion was walking through the tall grass, looking for a cool place to rest. He didn't see the big rope net that hunters had hidden on the path. Whoosh! The net fell over him. The lion pulled. He pushed. He rolled. But the more he struggled, the tighter the ropes held him. "Help!" he roared. His great roar rolled across the whole grassland, all the way to the river.

Far away, the little mouse heard the roar. She knew that voice! "That's my friend the lion," she said. "He's in trouble!" Other animals ran away from the big noise. But the little mouse ran toward it, as fast as her tiny legs could go. Through the grass, over the stones, under the bushes, pitter-patter, pitter-patter, until she found the lion tangled in the net.

"Don't worry, Lion," she said. "I'm here to help." "You?" said the lion, but this time he didn't laugh. The little mouse climbed up onto the net and began to nibble the ropes with her sharp little teeth. Nibble, nibble, snip! One rope broke. Nibble, nibble, snip! Another rope broke. She worked and worked, and the hole in the net grew bigger and bigger.

At last, the hole was big enough. The lion stepped out of the net and shook his great golden mane. He was free! He looked down at the tiny mouse, and his eyes were full of thanks. "Little friend," he said softly, "I laughed at you. I said a mouse could never help a lion. But you saved my life. I am sorry I laughed." The little mouse smiled. "That's what friends are for."

From that day on, the lion and the mouse were the best of friends. The mouse often rode on the lion's head, high above the grass, and the lion made sure no one ever bothered her. And the lion always remembered: no friend is too small, and no kindness is ever wasted. Under the big acacia tree, they watched the stars come out together. Good night.