The Lion and the Mouse

The dry-season morning was quiet beneath the wide acacia tree. Lion slept in its shade, his great paws resting in the cool dust. Nearby, Mouse gathered fallen grass seeds, carrying them towards his little burrow. He hurried around a stone, scampered over Lion's paw by mistake, and stopped with a squeak when one amber eye slowly opened.

Lion placed one broad paw in front of Mouse, stopping him without hurting him. Mouse's whiskers trembled. 'Please let me go,' he said. 'Perhaps I can help you one day.' Lion gave a soft, surprised chuckle. What help could such a tiny creature offer? Still, the promise pleased him, and he lifted his paw. Mouse bowed and hurried home.

Several days later, Lion followed his familiar path between the tall grasses. Without warning, a rope net dropped over him. Its square mesh tangled around his mane and paws, but he was not hurt. Lion pushed once, then felt the ropes tighten. He made himself still. Drawing a deep breath, he called for help, and his voice rolled across the grassland.

At his burrow, Mouse was sorting seeds when he heard the distant call. He knew that deep voice. Leaving his supper in the leaf cup, he raced through the grass, under bending stems and over warm stones. At last he reached the path. 'Lion, I am here,' Mouse called. Lion turned his head, astonished to see his smallest neighbour.

Mouse walked around the net, studying every rope. 'These cords are thicker than you are,' Lion said quietly. 'That is true,' Mouse replied, 'but I only need to work on one piece at a time.' He found the heavy anchor knot and set his sharp front teeth against a single fibre. Lion rested his head and kept perfectly still.

Nibble by nibble, the rough fibre began to fray. Mouse's whiskers grew dusty and his jaw grew tired. He paused for one slow breath, then started again. A strand snapped. The knot loosened. Soon a small opening became a wide one. Through it all, Lion waited patiently, trusting Mouse instead of pulling against the ropes.

With one careful step, then another, Lion slipped through the opening and stood free. The loose net fell behind him. 'You kept your promise,' he said. 'Thank you, my friend.' Mouse rubbed his tired jaw and smiled. 'Your paw was strong enough to spare me,' he answered. 'My teeth were small enough to free you.' Lion smiled back.

The next morning, Mouse returned to gather seeds beneath the acacia. Lion was resting there again, listening to small birds in the branches. A few seeds lay beneath his tail, so Lion moved it gently aside. Mouse filled his leaf cup, then settled near one enormous paw. In the broad patch of shade, the two friends shared the quiet morning.