The Mouse and the Elephant
Little Mouse stamped his foot on the jungle floor. Then he put his ear to the ground. He tried to see if the world was shaking because of his fierce stamp. "I am the strongest animal in the world," he shouted.
"Don't let the elephant hear you say that," said Little Mouse's uncle. "Elephant is powerful. He will not like to hear you brag."
"Where is the elephant?" asked Little Mouse. "I'll find elephant and show him who is the strongest. I will stomp him into the ground." Then mouse walked off to look for the elephant.
Little Mouse came to a lizard as he walked. "Are you an elephant?" asked Little Mouse.
"No, I am a lizard."
"You are very lucky," said Little Mouse. "When I find the elephant, I will stomp him into the ground.".
Lizard started to laugh at the bragging mouse. But, the mouse stamped his foot. As he stamped, thunder boomed in the air. The sound scared the lizard. Off he ran. "I showed HIM how powerful I am," thought mouse. He walked off to find the elephant.
Mouse came to a dog. "Are you an elephant," he demanded.
"I am a dog," barked the dog.
"You are very lucky," said Little Mouse. "When I find the elephant, I will stomp him into the ground.".
The dog started to laugh at the bragging mouse. But, the mouse stamped his foot. As he stamped, the dog's master whistled. The dog turned and ran the other way. "I showed HIM how powerful I am," thought mouse. He walked off again to find the elephant.
Little Mouse walked until he came to the river. A large gray animal stood beside the river. It was as big as a mountain. Its legs were as large as trees. It had huge ears and a long nose. The elephant was bending over taking a drink of water from the river when he saw Little Mouse. The tiny mouse looked like a spot of fuzz moving along the ground.
"Hey," said Little Mouse. "Are you an elephant? I am the strongest animal in the world. If you are an elephant, I will stomp you into the ground."
The elephant started to laugh at the ridiculous animal. As he laughed, water squirted out of his nose. The rush of water knocked Little Mouse down. He rolled over and over down the path and almost drowned in all of the water.
By the time the Mouse was able to get up, the elephant had walked away. He had left the foolish mouse soaking in a puddle of water. "I see that the elephant knew how powerful I am," said Little Mouse to himself. He ran away during that heavy storm. He knew that I would have stomped him into the ground."
Little Mouse told his uncle how the elephant had run away rather than fight. His uncle told his friends. His friends told all of the other animals in the world. Even people heard Little Mouse's version of the story.
Now everyone in the world thinks that elephants are afraid of mice. Only the elephant knows better. In fact, every time the elephant tries to take a drink, he still laughs and blows water out of his nose.
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