"A Lion and a Mouse"

Once upon a time, in a wide, golden grassland where the sun shined brightly and the wind danced through the trees, lived a mighty lion named Leo. He was known as the king of the jungle. His roar could be heard from far away, and all the animals respected him. Some were even afraid of him.

Leo was strong, brave, and proud. He ruled the land with fairness, but he believed that only big, powerful animals were important. He didn’t think much about the smaller ones. To him, a mouse or a bug was just something to ignore.

Not far from where Leo lived, under a big rock, lived a tiny mouse named Mimi. Mimi was small, quick, and clever. She spent her days collecting seeds and berries, always careful to stay away from big animals who might step on her or chase her away.

One hot afternoon, while Leo was resting under a tree after a big meal, he fell into a deep sleep. His loud snores echoed across the field. Mimi, looking for food, didn’t see him lying there. She ran across his giant paw without realizing it.

Leo woke up with a loud growl. “ROAR! Who dares step on the king?”

Mimi froze. She looked up and saw two big yellow eyes staring at her. She was standing right on top of the lion's paw.

“I-I'm sorry, Your Majesty!” she squeaked. “I didn’t mean to wake you. Please don’t eat me!”

Leo raised his paw, trapping the mouse. “You are so small! What can a tiny thing like you do for a big lion like me?”

“Please let me go,” Mimi begged. “One day, I might be able to help you!”

Leo laughed loudly. “You? Help me? That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard!”

But after laughing, Leo felt generous. “Fine,” he said. “Go on. You’re too small to make a meal anyway.”

He lifted his paw, and Mimi quickly ran back to her hole under the rock.

Days passed, and life in the jungle continued. Then one morning, something unexpected happened. While Leo was walking through the tall grass near the trees, he didn’t notice a hidden trap laid by hunters. Before he knew it, a heavy net fell from the trees and pulled him up into the air.

Leo roared and struggled. He twisted and turned, but the ropes were strong. The more he moved, the tighter the net became. He was stuck, and the hunters would soon return.

All the animals nearby heard his roar, but no one dared to come close. They were too afraid.

But Mimi heard it too. She ran out from under her rock and saw the lion hanging from the tree in the net. His eyes were wide with fear. Mimi remembered how Leo had once let her go, even when he could have hurt her.

“I must help him,” she whispered.

Without waiting, she ran up the tree, then climbed onto the net. She used her sharp little teeth and started to gnaw at the ropes. Bit by bit, she chewed. The ropes started to snap.

Leo stopped struggling when he saw her. “Mimi?” he asked in surprise.

“Don’t move!” she shouted. “I’m getting you out!”

Mimi chewed and chewed, rope after rope. Her teeth were small, but they were strong and sharp. Finally, the last rope snapped, and the net broke open. Leo tumbled to the ground, free at last.

He stood up and looked at the little mouse. “You... you saved me.”

Mimi smiled. “I told you one day I might help you.”

Leo lowered his head. “You were right. I was wrong to think that only big creatures matter. Today, a small mouse saved a big lion.”

From that day on, Leo and Mimi became great friends. They taught the other animals that size doesn’t decide someone’s value. Even the smallest among us can do big things.

Whenever anyone in the jungle said, “I’m too small to make a difference,” others would reply, “Remember the lion and the mouse!”

And in the heart of the jungle, the roar of the lion and the squeak of the mouse could often be heard together — a sign of true friendship.

Moral of the Story:

Never underestimate anyone because of their size. Even the smallest friend can make the biggest difference.