The Mouse and the Lion: a story

by Suniti Namjoshi

One day a lion caught a mouse.

"Spare me," said the mouse, "I am so little and you are so big; but, who knows, perhaps some day I will be able to do you a favour."

The lion thought this funny and let the mouse go. But a few days later the very same lion was caught in a net.

After a while the mouse came along. "Help," called the lion. "Help, little mouse. Chew through these ropes. Remember, after all, that you owe me a favour."

The mouse started chewing and then suddenly stopped.

"Why have you stopped?" roared the lion.

"Well, I just thought of something," said the little mouse, "You see, I think I have already done you a favour."

"You haven't," roared the lion.

"Yes, I have," said the mouse.

What?" roared the lion.

"Well, you see," said the mouse, "I haven't killed you."

From Feminist Fables (Virago; Spinifex), copyright Suniti Namjoshi