Once upon a time, in a big jungle, there lived a mighty lion. He was the king of all the animals. Everyone was afraid of him.

One afternoon, the lion was sleeping peacefully under a large tree. His golden mane spread around him like a crown.

A little mouse was running through the jungle. Without looking, she ran right across the lion’s nose! The lion’s eyes opened wide.

The lion was very angry. He caught the tiny mouse in his big paw. “How dare you wake me up! I will eat you!” the lion roared loudly.

The poor mouse was shaking with fear. “Please, dear lion, please don’t eat me! I am very small — I won’t even fill your stomach. If you let me go, I promise I will help you one day!”

The lion laughed and laughed. “Ha ha ha! How can a tiny mouse help a big lion like me? That is the funniest thing I have ever heard!” But the lion was in a good mood, so he let the little mouse go.

A few days later, the lion was walking in the jungle when he suddenly got caught in a net set by hunters. He was trapped! He roared and roared with all his strength, but he could not break free.

The little mouse heard the lion’s roars from far away. She ran as fast as her tiny legs could carry her. When she saw the lion trapped in the net, she said, “Don’t worry, dear lion! I will save you!”

The mouse began to chew through the ropes of the net with her sharp little teeth. She chewed and chewed. One rope broke, then another, then another. Finally, the lion was free!

“Thank you, my little friend!” said the lion, with tears in his eyes. “You were right. Even a small friend can help in big ways. I will never forget you.”

From that day on, the lion and the mouse became the best of friends. The mighty lion had learned an important lesson — never look down on anyone.