The Lion and the Mouse - Greek

My name is Squeaky, and I’m just a tiny field mouse, but I have a very big story to tell. It all happened on a warm, sunny afternoon in a grassy field in ancient Greece, where the air buzzed with bees and the world felt sleepy. I was scurrying through the tall grass, my whiskers twitching as I looked for delicious seeds to nibble on. Suddenly, I stumbled upon something huge, warm, and furry, like a mountain covered in golden fur. It was the King of the Forest, a magnificent lion, fast asleep under a big, shady tree. I knew I should have tiptoed away as quietly as possible, but my little feet were clumsy and I accidentally tickled his giant nose. This is the famous story of how a tiny mouse and a mighty lion became unlikely friends, a tale people call The Lion and the Mouse.

The lion woke up with a giant yawn that showed all his pointy teeth and then let out a grumpy growl. Before I could even think about dashing away, his huge paw, as big as a dinner plate, gently trapped my tail. I was so scared my whole body trembled. "Please, great king," I squeaked, my voice tiny and shaky. "Let me go. I didn't mean to wake you from your nap. If you spare me, I promise I will repay your kindness one day. I will find a way to help you." The lion looked down at me and started to chuckle, a deep, rumbling sound that shook the ground beneath my paws. The idea of a tiny mouse like me helping him, the strongest animal in the forest, seemed so silly to him. But he was a kind king, and my bravery made him smile. He lifted his paw and said, "Run along, little one." I scampered away, so thankful. A few days later, on January 15th, a terrifying roar echoed through the forest. It wasn't an angry roar; it was a roar of fear. I followed the sound and found the lion trapped in a thick rope net left by hunters. He thrashed and pulled, but the ropes only got tighter and tighter.

Seeing the great lion so helpless and sad, I remembered my promise. 'Don't worry.' I called out in my loudest squeak. 'I will help you.' The lion stopped struggling and watched me with wide, hopeful eyes. I scurried up the thick ropes, which felt like climbing a big, ropy tree. I got to work right away, chewing on them with my sharp little teeth. I gnawed and nibbled, gnawed and nibbled. My jaw was getting tired, but I didn't stop. One rope went snap. Then another went snap. Finally, with one last big bite, the main rope broke, and the whole net fell apart. The lion was free. He stood up, shook his magnificent mane, and looked at me with amazement and gratitude. "You saved me," he rumbled, his voice full of kindness. "You kept your promise." From that day on, we were the best of friends. This story was first told long ago by a storyteller named Aesop to teach a very important lesson: that even the smallest creature can help the mightiest, and that kindness is never, ever wasted. It shows us that everyone is important, no matter their size. Today, this story still reminds us to be kind to everyone we meet, because you never know when a small act of goodness can make a very big difference.