It is a peaceful afternoon in the forest. Mr. Lion is very sleepy.
Lion: What a peaceful afternoon! I am very sleepy. Uh…(yawns) I will take a nap now.
Mr. Lion falls asleep. Three little mice play near Mr. Lion.
Mickey: Come on, let’s play!
Minnie: Okay. What game shall we play?
Jerry: How about hide-and-seek?
Mickey: Great idea!
Mickey: But who will be “IT”?
Jerry: Let’s do Rock, Paper, Scissors.
Mickey: Fine.
Mickey: Rock, Paper, Scissors.
Minnie: Rock, Paper, Scissors.
Jerry: Ah ha!
Mickey, you are “IT”!
Mickey: Okay. I will count to ten. You two hide.
Minnie: Don’t count too fast.
Jerry: Let’s hide!
Minnie and Jerry look around for a good place to hide. Minnie hides under a leaf, but Jerry can’t find a good place. He looks and looks.
Jerry: I can’t find a good place.
Mickey: …eight, nine, ten. Come out, come out! Wherever you are! Ah ha! I found you, Minnie.
Come out!
Jerry: Oh, no! I better hide right now. Hey, this looks like a good place. It’s really soft.
Jerry climbs up and hides. But he doesn’t know that he is on top of Mr. Lion’s head.
Mickey: Where are you, Jerry?
Minnie: Come out! We can’t find you!
Jerry: Ha, ha, ha! Here I am!
Jerry shouts and wakes Mr. Lion.
Lion: (roaring) Grrr… Who is this? Who woke me up?
Mickey: A LION!!!
Minnie: Jerry, run!!!
Jerry: A Lion?
Jerry looks down and Mr. Lion looks up. Their eyes meet.
Jerry: Oops!
Jerry tries to run away, but Mr. Lion stops him.
Lion: Stop there! Who are you?
Jerry: I am just a little mouse.
Lion: YOU woke me up?
Jerry: It wasn’t on purpose. I was just playing. I didn’t know.
Lion: I am very angry. I am going to eat you!
Jerry: I am very sorry, Mr. Lion. Please, forgive me.
Lion: I don’t care. I am still angry. You woke me. So I will eat you.
Jerry: Please, wait! Please, don’t eat me!
Lion: Why not? I am hungry.
Jerry: Because I am very small. And I taste terrible. Please, let me go. Just this once.
Lion: Perhaps you are right. You are very small.
Jerry: Yes, yes. Let me go and someday I will help you.
Lion: Ha, ha! That is so funny. How can a little mouse help me? I am the king of the forest.
Jerry: I am small. But I am also very smart. I will help you someday. I promise.
Lion: Okay, okay. Just this once. You can go. But don’t wake me up again. Then I will really eat you.
Jerry: Thank you so much, Mr. Lion. You are so kind. I won’t forget your kindness.
Lion: Just leave e alone now. I’m going back to sleep. Uh…
Mr. Lion lets Jerry go and falls back to sleep. A few days later, Jerry is playing with his friends in the forest again. He hears Mr. Lion crying far away.
Lion: (crying)Grrr…
Jerry: Hey, Mickey.
Did you hear something?
Mickey: No. I didn’t hear anything.
Jerry: How about you, Minnie?
Minnie: I don’t know.
Lion: (crying)Grrr…
Jerry: I think it’s Mr. Lion. I think he is hurt. I must help him.
Jerry looks around the forest for Mr. Lion, but he can’t find him.
Jerry: Where are you, Mr. Lion? Cry out louder!
Lion: Help! Anyone help!
Jerry: There you are! I found you. But why are you in a net?
Lion: A hunter caught me. He will be back soon. Call a big animal. Quickly!
Jerry: Don’t worry. I will help you.
Lion: How can you? You are so small.
Jerry: I will chew up the rope. Just wait.
Lion: Hurry, before the hunter comes back.
Jerry keeps chewing the rope.
Lion: Little mouse, your teeth must hurt.
Jerry: It’s okay. I want to help you. There, the rope is cut.
Mr. Lion gets out of the net.
Lion: Thank you, little mouse. Thank you for your help.
Jerry: That’s okay. I said I would help you someday.
Lion: You were right. You may be small, but you are also very smart.
MORAL
Do not judge someone by their size. And, kindness is never wasted.
