Story of the Month

The Lion and the Mouse

told by John Walsh

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The little mouse ran through the tall grass … until he came to a little hill. He scampered up on top and looked around. Ah, he was just above the grass… and the sun was shining. He felt the ground and it was nice and soft.

“Oh,” he said. “This would be a great place to take a nap.” But for him to take a nap, he would have to get cleaned up. So he started cleaning his fir and his big ears.

He didn’t realize that right behind him, … two big eyelids slowly opened to see … who … was taking a bath … on … his … nose.

But the little mouse didn’t see this. He was busy cleaning his whiskers and cleaning his ears.

Then he stopped, and thought to himself. Hmmm… it seemed like someone was looking at him. “Oh well, I can’t worry about that. I’ve got to get myself cleaned up for a nap.” He stopped again. This time, he was sure of it. Someone was definitely looking at him.

He slowly turned around. And when he did, he saw … two … big … eyeballs looking at him!

He did what any little mouse would do in a case like that … He ran! He jumped off the lion’s nose and ran as fast as he could … with all four feet.

The big lion raised his paw and brought it down, … right … on … the … little … mouse’s … tail! The mouse was running as fast as he could with all four feet, … but wasn’t going anywhere.

Then the lion took his other paw and reached over. He picked up the little mouse by the tail, and lifted him high into the air.

He said, “Little mouse, … what were you doing taking a bath … on my nose?”

“Mr. Lion! … Your Majesty, I am so sorry. … I will never, ever, … ever, … never ever take a bath on your nose again.”

“Little mouse, do you know what I am going to do to you? I am going to lift you high above my head. … and I am going to open my mouth wide … and I am going to drop you in … for an after-nap … snack.”

“Oh, no, no! Please don’t do that! … Oh, … it wouldn’t mean much to you, but it would be everything to me. … Oh, your Majesty, I have an idea. If you let me go, then maybe … someday … I can do you a favor.”

[ha, ha] You do me a favor? ! [ha, ha] “You’re a little mouse …. and I am a big lion…” Oh, go on. At least you gave me a little laugh. … But, from now on, you be careful where you take your baths.”

Two weeks later, just two weeks…the big lion was walking through the jungle … when he walked on top of a net trap. [swish] It pulled him up into the air – just above the ground. The lion struggled to get free, but the net pulled around him more tightly.

He roared for help, but when the other animals heard the roar, they ran away from him. He roared again, and the animals ran away even faster.

The little mouse was running away too, when he suddenly stopped. “Wait, that is my friend, the lion.” So he turned around and went back to where the lion was. He looked up and saw that the lion was hanging in a net just above the ground.

The little mouse ran up the tree to where the limb was. He went out the limb to where the rope was. He went down the rope to where the net was. He went around the net to where the lion’s nose was.

He said, “Hello, … it’s me, … your friend, the mouse.”

“Oh, it’s you. I was hoping for someone just a little bit bigger.”

“No, no, I can help! I can help!”

[rolling his eyes] “Whatever!”

So the little mouse went down below the lion. He grabbed a strand of net, and with his sharp teeth, gnawed right through it. “Snip! Snip!” Hmmm… it wasn’t enough. So he took another strand of net and gnawed through it. “Snip, Snip, Snip.” And the net tore open and the lion dropped out.

He jumped up and ran down the path. Then he stopped, turned, and looked at the little mouse. He said, “Thank you! … Thank you, … because you have taught me … that sometimes, … my best friends … are my littlest friends.

Don’t forget to check out our ‘Tips for Telling’ this month as well

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