The Lion and the Mouse
An Aesop Fable retold by Dianne de Las Casas
"In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight..."
"In the jungle, the mighty jungle,
The lion sleeps tonight..."
Sssshhh.
In the jungle, Lion was sleeping. He was taking a nap. A small, furry little creature, a mouse, was walking through the jungle not paying any attention to where she was walking. Suddenly she stepped right on top of Lion's nose! The lion woke up with a start and let out a great big "ROAR!"
Then he reached out and he grabbed the little mouse between his paws.
The little mouse begged, "Mr. Lion, I didn't mean to step on your nose. Please let me go."
But the lion shook his head "No" and wouldn't let go.
The little mouse begged again, "If you let me go, I promise to be your very best friend and help you whenever you are in need."
The lion looked at the little mouse and said, "You?! An eensy, teensy, weeny little mouse friend to a strong, grand animal like myself? HA!" The lion threw his shiny, golden mane back.
The little mouse answered, "Yes, Mr. Lion, I can be your friend. Please let me go."
But the lion shook his head "No" and wouldn't let go. Instead, he licked his chops. "Mmm. I'm very hungry." He looked at the mouse smiling, showing his big sharp teeth.
The little mouse begged, "Please don't eat me, Mr. Lion. Please let me go."
But the lion shook his head "No" and wouldn't let go. So the little mouse did something a little different. She did something all children do to their parents and their teachers. She began to...
WHINE!
"Pleeeeeeeeeeese, Mr. Lion, let me goooooooooooooooooooooooooooo."
The little mouse was creating such a racket that the lion had to let her go and cover both of his ears with his paws. As soon as he let go, the little mouse scampered as fast and as far away from the lion as she could.
A few days later, the little mouse was walking through the jungle. That's when she heard the strangest sound. It sounded like a sick kitty cat moaning and groaning.
"Meeeeeooooooww."
The little mouse opened her ears and heard the sound again.
"Meeeeeoooooooww."
She followed the sound and that's when she found the lion. He was in trouble. Earlier that day, he was walking through the jungle, not paying any attention to where he was walking when suddenly he stepped right into a hunter's trap! A net sprang up around him and hauled him up. He was dangling upside down from a tree limb.
The lion saw the little mouse and said, "Pleeease help me, little mouse. Please!"
The little mouse looked at the lion and said, "The other day I made you a promise and I am not one to break my promises BUT if I help you and set you free, you must promise not to...EAT ME! Do you promise, Mr. Lion?"
"Yes, I promise," Lion answered quickly.
The little mouse went to work. She climbed up the tree and sat on the limb, gnawing at the net. Finally, there was a hole big enough for Lion to escape. Mouse scampered down the tree and stood in front of Lion as he stretched out his strong legs and let out a ferocious "ROAR!" Then, without saying another word, the lion reached out and grabbed the little mouse with both of his paws.
The little mouse cried out in terror, "You said you wouldn't eat me, Mr. Lion. You promised!"
But Lion said nothing and instead, pulled the little mouse closer and closer until she could see his sharp teeth shining in the sun. Then, in one swift motion, the lion bent down and gave the mouse a great big "SMOOCH!" on the lips!
From that time forward, the lion and the mouse were the very best of friends. It just goes to show you that friendship comes in all shapes and sizes!