It was a hot and sunny day in the jungle. A lion lay sleeping in cool shade of the forest, his big head resting upon his paws.

Along scurried a mouse, looking for some food in the shady forest. At first, the mouse did not see the lion. But when she did, her heart nearly stopped in fear. In her rush to flee, she bumped into the lion’s nose.

This, of course, woke the lion. Annoyed, he grabbed the mouse, holding her in his giant paws.

“Please don’t eat me,” begged the tiny mouse.

“Why not?” asked the lion.

“Let me go, and one day I will repay your kindness,” she said.

The lion thought this was funny. How could a tiny mouse help a lion? But he let her go. He wasn’t that hungry, anyway.

A few weeks went by before the lion and mouse met once again.

This time, the lion was in trouble. The lion got stuck in a hunter’s net and couldn’t get out. He was losing hope until he saw the mouse passing by. The lion called out to her for help, not knowing how one so small could help one so big.

The mouse rushed over to help the lion. She was small, but she could help free him. The mouse knew just what to do. She began to chew through the ropes. It took some time, but soon the lion was free!

Never forget: a friend is a friend, no matter how small.