One day a lion was
sleeping in the jungle. A tiny mouse ran about in the grass and
accidently ran over the lion's head and down his nose.
The lion woke up with a loud roar and caught the little mouse. He
opened his huge mouth and wanted to swallow it when the mouse started
to shout:
'Pardon me, O King,' said the little mouse. 'Please, forgive me this
time and I'll never forget your kindness! I didn't want to disturb or
hurt Your Majesty! Perhaps I can do some good to you next time.'
The lion started to laugh. 'How could a tiny little mouse like you ever
do anything to help me?' smiled the lion. 'Oh well,' said the lion and
he put the mouse down. 'You're not big enough to be my dinner.' And the
mouse could run away.
A few weeks later some hunters came to the jungle and they wanted to
catch the lion. So they made traps of strong nets. The lion came there
hunting for some food and unfortunately fell into a trap. He roared
loudly and tried to escape but the more he moved the tighter the ropes
became.
The lion was desperate. His voice was heard in every corner of the
jungle. Even the tiny mouse heard it.
'Perhaps he's the lion who freed me.' he remembered his promise and ran
towards the lion to help.
At the trap the mouse looked at the lion and said: 'Stop! Stop! Don't
roar! The hunters can hear you! I can help you to get out.' With his
sharp little teeth the mouse started to chew the ropes of the net until
they broke.
Finally the lion could step out of the trap. 'Thank you, good mouse!'
said the lion. 'You REALLY could help me even if I thought you're too
small. I see now kindness is not a question of size.'
Even the strong sometimes need the friendship of the week.