The Little Mouse Who Dreamed of Flying

A bedtime story for little ones
By Daniel Ryberg (adapted)

Once there was a little mouse. She lived all alone under a rock by the lake. Her mommy was gone, and the mouse felt cold and sad. Winter was coming, and she had no food.

One day, the little mouse decided to find a warm place. She walked toward a house where people lived. The house looked very big to her! She climbed up to the roof, then followed some wires and found her way into the attic. It was warm and quiet there. But soon, she felt lonely.

So the mouse went down a pipe and found a little crack under the door. She slipped inside. Suddenly, she smelled something delicious… and saw a fluffy, moving tail!

The tail belonged to a kitten named Tommy. He lived in the house too. When Tommy saw the little mouse, he didn’t chase her. Instead, he said softly:
— “Miu! Hello! Do you want to be my friend?”

The mouse didn’t run away. She stood on her back paws and looked into Tommy’s green eyes. She liked him.

— “Let’s play!” said Tommy. “I’ll give you milk! We can sleep together, run on the couch, and watch the lake!”

The little mouse didn’t say anything. She was scared and hungry. Tommy gently pushed a bowl of milk toward her.

— “Try it,” he said. “I’ll wait.”

The mouse looked at his kind face. Then she stepped forward and took a little sip. Tommy drank too.
— “Milk tastes better with a friend!” thought Tommy.
— “It’s the best milk ever — because my friend gave it to me!” thought the mouse.

When they finished, Tommy asked:
— “What’s your name?”

— “I don’t have one,” said the little mouse.

— “Then I’ll give you a name! I’ll call you Alice!”

— “Alice? It’s beautiful!” she smiled. “Can I call you Tommy?”

— “Of course! You are Alice, and I am Tommy! We are best friends now!”

Alice was so happy that she squeaked! Then she got scared.
— “Oh no, did I scare you?” she asked.

— “No!” laughed Tommy. “You squeaked because you’re happy. And I’ll always be your friend, no matter what!”

Then they climbed up to the windowsill. The sun was rising.
Tommy hugged Alice with his warm body, and they both smiled.

— “Alice,” said Tommy, “what do you wish for more than anything?”

Alice thought for a moment.
— “Yesterday, I wished I could fly… like the birds.”

— “Fly? Why?”

— “Because if I could fly, no one could ever hurt me. I could fly far away.”

Tommy looked at her and said gently:
— “You don’t need wings, Alice. You have me now. No one will ever hurt you. I’ll always protect you. We are together forever.”

And Alice knew — her dream had come true.

The End.