The True Friends
The True Friends
An Unlikely Tail When Two Strangers Meet
For many days, the lion wondered when he would meet a true friend. He knew many other animals, all of whom were nice and good, but none that he could call a true friend.
“I am very sad and lonely,” he would say to himself, “but I don't quite know how to be a true friend. How can I have a true friend, unless I am a true friend?” he would say to himself. “Well, I'll do my best anyway.” And he moved on.
Now, the nights were so long, and the days seemed so wrong, but this sad little lion, did not feel that he was making much progress. As time passed, however, he began to lose hope, and doubt, and he felt that he might never find a true friend, to love him just the way he was.
Then one day, he saw a big mess in his kitchen, that he did not remember making. “Who made this big mess!” he said, but he was too tired to clean it up, and so he went to bed.
The next morning, the lion slowly arose to clean up the breadcrumbs and cheese that were scattered all over his kitchen floor, but when he turned the corner, he was surprised.
“There is no mess here!” He exclaimed, “Perhaps it was only in a dream. Well, I'll just eat breakfast, and then go into work, and start another long, lonely day.” And he did.
Back inside the lion's house, was a little field mouse, who had seen the lion’s disappointment, at having discovered the mess he had made, as well as having heard the lion’s sad words of loneliness.
“I will clean it all up,” he had said to himself, “and then maybe he won't be mad at me.”
But alas, even if he cleaned up the mess, the mouse thought that if the lion found him, he would eat him up, and he was afraid.
“No,” thought the little mouse, “he seems like a nice lion.” And he went out to clean up the mess. When the mouse had finally finished, he went back into the wall, to rest from his labors.
Well, the lion came home tired, ready for another evening of sitting alone, wishing that he had someone to talk to, about how he loves to pick flowers, run through the fields, and splash through the puddles after a refreshing rain.
“I know that I am a very good lion,” he began to say out loud, “but I don't think that anyone else knows this. I just need someone to have fun with.” He said, and he fell asleep in his chair.
What the lion didn't know however, was that he was not alone. The mouse had heard him come in, and had heard every word that the lion had said, from his sad little heart. This had touched the mouse, for he also felt much the same way inside, and he sat watching this lion, whom he adored.
“I know,” he thought to himself, “I'll do something extra special and nice for him, and maybe we can become friends.” He thought with hope.
Then, with the hope of being the lion's friend, he stole off into the night, to a place where he knew some beautiful wild daisies grew. Once there, he picked out two perfect flowers, a white, and yellow daisy.
“These ought to please my new friend.” He said, and he began to chew at the stems until the flowers fell down. Then he wrapped his little tail around them, and tirelessly carried them home.
Once home, he found the lion still in his chair.
“I hope that the lion won't wake up if I crawl up into his chair, and put these two daisies in his hand.” He thought, but he did so.
When the lion woke up the next morning, he was aware of a sweet smell coming from somewhere very near him.
“I know that smell!” He exclaimed, “Those are my favorite flowers in the whole world.” And he burst into joy, happily bringing the flowers up to his nose for a pleasant smell. Just then, the little mouse awoke.
“These are for you.” He squeaked.
“Who's there?” Asked the frightened lion, looking all around his living room.
“It's just me, a friendly little field mouse, who wanted you to be happy.”
“Oh, thank you.” Said the lion, “Please come out where I can see you.” And the little mouse did.
Then the mouse gained courage and stated his fears, “I was afraid that if you knew I lived here, you would eat me.” He said.
“Oh no,” said the lion, “I just eat things like bread and cheese.” And they both laughed. “I like little mice as friends,” he said, “for they are cute and nice.”
Well, from that day on, the lion and the mouse were inseparable. The mouse would ride on the lion’s back, while they would run through the fields, splash in the puddles, talk to one another, and oh yes, they would even pick their favorite flowers together. The lion and the mouse had finally found their true friend.
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