Little Big Mouse

Once upon a time, a little mouse walked up a big hill on her way to the cheese shop. But when she got to the top of the hill, the hill tilted.

"Eek!" she cried. "Earthquake!"

But it wasn't an earthquake. As it turns out, the hill wasn't a big hill at all. It was a big lion!

The big lion jumped up and grabbed the little mouse by her tail.

"Mmmm," said the lion. "What a tasty little tidbit. I think I can fit this little nibble in before dinner."

But the little mouse didn't want to be eaten. She was going to have a big cheese party that night, and she was really looking forward to it.

So just when the big lion was about to drop her into his mouth, she said, "Please don't eat me! If you let me go, I'll return the favor and help YOU out one day!"

When the lion heard what the mouse said, he stopped, and began to roar with laughter. That was the funniest thing he had ever heard.

"What, a little mouse like you? Help a big lion like me? That's so ridiculous!"

The lion laughed some more, until his sides began to hurt.

"Whoo! That's a good one!"

One day, a year later, the big lion was walking in the jungle on the way to his club when suddenly he was swept up into the air and was hanging from a tree.

It was a hunter's net, and he was trapped!

"Help! Help!" he cried. "Somebody come help me, quick!"

As it happened, the little mouse was just then walking by, and she heard his scream.

"Sounds like someone is in trouble," she said, and she ran over there lickety-split. She looked up in the air, and saw . . .

"Hey, isn't that you?" she asked. "Aren't you the big lion who didn't eat me?"

Although the big lion was in a fix, he recognized the little mouse.

"That's me," he said, sounding angry and scared. "Quick, now is your chance to do your favor. Run and go get help!"

But the little mouse heard the hunters' footsteps approaching.

"There's no time for that," she said. She thought for a second, and then snapped her little fingers.

"I've got it. I'll get you free myself."

"What? Are you crazy?" said the lion. "How can a little mouse like you free me from this great big net?"

But while he was busy complaining, the mouse was busy running up the tree and chewing through the net.

"Almost . . . there . . ." panted the little mouse between nibbles, hearing the hunters getting closer and closer . . . .

Suddenly, the ropes snapped, and the big lion was free!

The lion stood up, roared a mighty roar, and the hunters all ran away. When the hunters were gone, the lion and the mouse shook hands.

The mouse said, "See? I told you I would help you someday!"

"Wow!" said the lion. "I'm sure glad I didn't eat you! That was some quick thinking you did!"

And from that day forward, the little mouse and the big lion were best friends. He would even let her walk on his back sometimes - when he wanted his back scratched.