So, for the first time, Hubert lost and Tommy won. Everyone cheered for him, and Tommy was very proud. Hubert was very angry. He yelled and he screamed and he said that he had gotten to the finish line so many times already that he could not have lost! But, because he never crossed the finish line, he was not the winner.

Tommy smiled at Hubert. “Slow and steady wins the race,” he said.

One day, a small mouse was running around throughout a cave. The mouse was trying to be very quiet, for the mouse knew that a big, strong lion lived in the cave. But, the cave was the best place that the mouse could hide from the big falcon that was outside, looking for food. So, the mouse decided to hide in the cave. He was looking for a good place to hide away, knowing that the lion that lived in the cave liked to sleep during the day and was only really awake at night.

So, Mouse kept his paws crossed that this day would be like any other day, and the lion would stay asleep. He knew that he would be able to hide out and be quiet, but he just needed to find a good spot.

As Mouse looked around the cave, he saw a hole in the wall that looked like it would be the perfect hiding place. But, it was right next to the big sleeping lion. With no other choice, Mouse moved closer and closer to the lion. He tiptoed as quietly as he could, using one paw at a time to slowly and steadily creep all the way across the floor of the cave. He was very careful to be quiet, and he did a very, very good job at it.

But, in his sleep, the lion’s tail twitched and landed on the ground next to Mouse. It kicked up a little cloud of dust that tickled Mouse’s nose. Mouse tried very hard not to sneeze, but sure enough, he did. “Ah… Ah… ACHOO!” Mouse rubbed his nose and sniffled before he froze—did he wake up the lion? Sure enough, the lion was looking right at him.

“Eep!” squeaked Mouse and he tried to run all the way into the little hole. But, Lion was faster and Lion put a big, strong paw right onto Mouse’s tail. “Ow! Let me go!” squealed Mouse, trying to pull his tail out from under the lion’s paw.

“Why should I?” asked Lion. “I’m hungry and you woke me up from my nap. Everyone knows that lions are hungry when they wake up, and you woke me up. But, you are right here and I could eat you up and then go back to sleep!”

Mouse looked up at Lion in fright. He didn’t want to be lunch! “I’m sorry, Mr. Lion!” he squeaked. “But please, let me down! I promise I’ll be careful next time!”

The Lion frowned and picked np the mouse in his paw, holding him from his tail. He pulled the mouse closer and closer to his mouth and opened up his big, mighty jaws, and Mouse saw teeth that were bigger than his tail!

“I’m sorry!!” Squealed Mouse. “I’m going to be much more careful! But, why would you want to eat such a little mouse? I would not taste good and I am too small to make you full. Surely, you would be much happier with a worthier meal!”

The lion looked back at Mouse for a moment and seemed to consider it. But then, something happened. Lion put Mouse down. “You know,” he said with a big yawn. “You’re right. You’re not even big enough to be a little snack. Get out of here,” said the lion as he got comfortable on the floor again, stretching out his back.

“Thank you, kind lion!” said Mouse. “I promise I’ll return the favor someday!” And with that said, Mouse ran away.

Lion chuckled to himself. A mouse, save a lion? How absurd!

A month later, Lion went out on a great, big hunt. He went searching for something new to eat, for he was once again, very hungry. As he was hunting a pack of zebras, something horrible happened! As Lion walked underneath a tree, he suddenly found himself wrapped up in a big net that was stuck to the tree! He could not run away, for the rope was too big. He could not scratch or cut through the net either, because the little squares were too small for him to fit a tooth or a claw through. So, Lion was stuck!