The Lion and the Mouse
Once upon a time, in a dense, sun-dappled jungle, a mighty Lion was taking a nap. He lay stretched out under a large shady tree, his great head resting on his paws. As he slept, a tiny, timid Mouse, scurrying home, accidentally ran across the Lion's nose.
Startled from his sleep, the Lion let out a tremendous roar. In a flash, he pinned the little Mouse under his massive paw. "How dare you wake me!" he growled, his voice like thunder. "I am the King of the Beasts! I shall crush you for your insolence!"
The terrified Mouse squeaked, trembling from whiskers to tail. "Oh, please, Your Majesty!" she pleaded. "Forgive me this time. I didn't mean to wake you. If you let me go, I promise I will never forget your kindness. Who knows, one day I may be able to help you!"
The Lion scoffed at the idea. The thought of this tiny creature ever being able to help him, the mighty king of the jungle, was so absurd that it made him laugh. His big, rumbling laugh shook the ground. Amused by the Mouse's boldness, his anger melted away. "Very well," he said, lifting his paw. "Be on your way, little one. But do not disturb my rest again." The grateful Mouse scurried away as fast as her little legs could carry her.
A few weeks later, the very same Lion was roaming through the jungle when he fell into a trap set by hunters. A thick rope net dropped over him, pulling him up until he was dangling from a tree, completely helpless. He roared in frustration and fear, thrashing with all his might, but the ropes were too strong. His roars echoed through the jungle, a sound of despair.
The little Mouse, not far away, heard the Lion's roars. Recognizing the voice of the king who had spared her life, she ran towards the sound. She found the magnificent Lion tangled in the net, defeated and exhausted.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty," squeaked the Mouse. "I am here to help you!"
Without a second's hesitation, she climbed up the tree and onto the net. She began to gnaw at the thick ropes with her small, sharp teeth. One by one, the strands of the rope snapped. The Lion watched in amazement as the tiny creature worked tirelessly. Soon, a rope snapped, then another, and another. Before long, the net had a hole big enough for the Lion to break free.
The Lion tumbled to the ground, finally free. He turned to the small Mouse and said with a humble voice, "Thank you, my dear friend. You were right. You have saved my life. I have learned a valuable lesson today."
From that day on, the Lion and the Mouse were the best of friends, and the Lion never again underestimated the power of a small act of kindness.
The moral of the story is: A kindness is never wasted, and no act of friendship, however small, is ever in vain.
