The Lion and the Mouse

The Big Friend and the Small Friend

Lion was big. VERY big. The biggest animal in the whole grass land.

Mouse was small. VERY small. The smallest animal in the whole grass land.

One sunny day, Lion was sleeping. Zzzzzz. He was sleeping under a tree. His big paws were tucked in. His big mane was fluffy. His big nose went snore... snore... snore...

Mouse was running. Scurry, scurry, scurry. She was looking for seeds. She ran over a rock. She ran over a stick. She ran over... a big furry paw.

"Squeak!" said Mouse.

Lion opened ONE eye. He saw a tiny mouse on his paw.

"You woke me up," said Lion.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please don't eat me!" said Mouse. "I am so small. I would not even be a snack."

Lion looked at the tiny mouse. She WAS very small.

"If you let me go," said Mouse, "I will help you one day."

Lion laughed. A big rumbling laugh. "YOU will help ME? You are so small!"

"Small can be helpful," said Mouse.

Lion smiled. "Okay, little mouse. Go."

Mouse ran away. Scurry, scurry, scurry.

Many days later, Lion was walking in the tall grass. He did not see the net. WHOMP! The net fell on him. It was a big strong net. Lion pulled. He pushed. He roared.

ROARRR!

But the net was too strong. Lion could not get out. He was stuck.

Then — scurry, scurry, scurry.

Mouse came running. She saw Lion in the net.

"Don't worry!" said Mouse. "I will help you!"

"But you are so small," said Lion.

Mouse smiled. She started to chew. Nibble, nibble, nibble. Her tiny teeth chewed the rope. Nibble, nibble, nibble. One rope broke. Then another. Then another.

Nibble, nibble, nibble. Snap! Snap! Snap!

The net fell apart. Lion was free!

Lion looked at Mouse. Mouse looked at Lion.

"You helped me," said Lion. "You are small, but you helped me."

"I told you," said Mouse. "Small can be helpful."

That night, Lion lay in the warm grass. Mouse sat on his big soft paw. The stars came out. One... two... three... so many stars.

Lion's big nose went snore... snore... snore...

Mouse's tiny nose went snore... snore... snore...

One big. One small. Both sleeping.

The grass went shhhhh... shhhhh... shhhhh... in the warm wind.

And two friends slept. One big. One small. Both important.

Shhhh.