Once upon a time, in the middle of a peaceful forest, there was a big, mighty Lion. He was resting in the shade of a tall tree, his huge head resting on his paws, enjoying a lovely afternoon nap. Everything was calm and quiet—until a little, timid Mouse appeared.
The tiny Mouse didn’t mean any harm, but she was in such a hurry that she accidentally ran right across the Lion’s big, soft nose! The Lion woke up with a start. He opened his eyes and saw the Mouse, and with one swift move, he caught her under his enormous paw.
“Who dares wake me from my nap?” the Lion growled. His voice was deep and thunderous.
The little Mouse trembled with fear, but she managed to squeak, “Please, Mr. Lion, don’t hurt me! I didn’t mean to wake you. If you let me go, I promise I’ll help you someday.”
The Lion tilted his great head and laughed, a rumbling sound that made the trees shake. “You? Help me? You’re just a tiny Mouse! How could you ever help a big, strong Lion like me?”
But the Lion was kind deep down inside, and even though he didn’t believe the Mouse could ever repay him, he decided to let her go. “Run along, little one,” he said with a smile. And with that, he lifted his paw and set her free.
Days passed, and the Lion continued to roam his forest home. But one day, as he was hunting, the Lion wandered into a hunter’s trap! Thick ropes wrapped around him, and no matter how hard he pulled, he couldn’t escape. The Lion roared and roared, hoping someone would come to help him. His powerful roar echoed through the trees.
The little Mouse was nearby and heard the Lion’s cries. She recognized that roar right away. “That’s Mr. Lion! He’s in trouble!” she thought. Without a second thought, the Mouse raced to find him. When she reached the trapped Lion, she saw him tangled in the hunter’s net.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Lion! I’ll help you!” the Mouse said bravely.
The Lion looked down at her, surprised. “You? How can you help me, little one?”
But the Mouse didn’t waste any time. She ran straight to the thick ropes of the net and began gnawing at them with her sharp little teeth. Bit by bit, she chewed through the ropes, and soon, one of them snapped! Then another, and another, until finally, the Lion was free!
The Lion stood up, shaking off the last of the net, and looked down at the tiny Mouse with amazement. “I can’t believe it,” he said softly. “You really did help me. I’m so sorry I doubted you.”
The Mouse smiled up at the Lion. “I told you I would repay you one day, Mr. Lion. It doesn’t matter how small you are—everyone can help in their own way!”
