Old Aesop was an Ancient Greek-his AWESOME fABLES are unique. Each Each fun tale gives good advice teminding us we must be nice.

Do not drop litter in the street. Always keep your bedroom neat. Be polite to any guest. When it's chilly, Wear a vest!You'll surely learn these simple rulesunless you are a bunch of fools!

Now read this fable, if you're wise. See Kindness bring a BIG surprise...

We meet a lion, fierce and bold. His teeth are sharp, although he's old. He'd often hoo the cubs away and take a rest around midday.

Buzz of you lot! Don't make a peep!I need to have a little sleep!

The cubs cried, "Let's get out of here! Don't wake him up. He'll bite your ear!" Every animal knows, it's best to let a lion doze!

Leon (or 'lion' in Ancient Greece) Was King and ruled the jungle beasts. But he's not the hero of this tale.Our star's on a much smaller scale...

Our champ's a tiny mouse called Tim. A real cutie - look at him! Now, Tim was heading out to find some nuts and seeds - things of that kind. A little snack, around midday, to chase his hunger pains away.

He wasn't focussed - not at all - instead he thought about ... FOOTBALL. Mouse United were his side, Tim wore his scarf with real pride. He was due to see them play against the Meerkat team that day.

As Tim dreamed they'd win the cup, something tripped him up. Unknown to Tim, old Leon's tail was hidden by dust - all yellow and pale.

The mouse went flying through the air, and Landed SPLAT in Leon's hair. "Who's that?" growled Leon, wide awake. "To rouse me was a big mistake!"

Poor Tim clung silent as he could. But trying to hide did him no good.

The lion ROARED and shook his mane and Tim flew through the air again. He landed right by Leon's paws - the lion grabbed him in his claws.

You woke me with your tiny feet! I'll eat you like a sushi treat! The Japanese use fish and rice...

But I think mouse tastes twice as nice!

"But Sire," squealed Tim. "I'm very small. I will not fill you up at all!" "QUIET!" growled Leon, "You were unwise to wake me rudely, by surprise.

I dreamed a lovely lion dream, about my beautiful lioness queen. We strolled together, paw in paw, and danced along the moonlit shore.'

"S-sounds romantic!" stuttered Tim. But angry Leon roared at him:

First you wake me from my sleep! now you have the nerve to squeak!

The lion opened his mouth WIDE, about pop poor Tim inside...

"Please!" begged Tim. "Your Royal Highness, let's make a deal. please show some kindness!" "deal?" Lwon asked, and swung Tim's scarf. "Realy, Titch! Don't make me laugh.'

"Listen!" said Tim. "Here's an idea: Free me now. But I'll stay near.if ever you're in any trouble, I'll come running on the double!"

"YOU help ME?" Leon roared with laughter, "I've Never heard of anything DAFTER! How can a little mosey thing help me, a mighty lion king? OH, what a VERY funny choke," Leon was grinning as he spoke.

"You've really made me smily today So I will let you away. My tiny pal, you're far too funny to end your life inside my tummy . Run along! Don't even squeak! Never again wake me from sleep!"

There was no need to tell Tim twice. He sped away - gone in a trice.

"I'll keep my promise," he called, and ran. "I'll help you out, if ever I can. To set me free was a Kindly thing.A gentle act, my noble king!"

That afternoon by Kick-off time, Tim had recovered-I feel fine!

He told his friends, who waved blue scarves, how he'd escaped. The mice all laughed.

But leon's so much bigger. Tim.How on earth can you help him?

" You never know,' Tim tried to say. But then the whistle started play!The cheering mice waved tails and paws. They squeaked and shouted, whooped and ROARED!

Mice never lose! we never draw!We are the tiny team who score!

you meerkats should stay in your holes You're just no good at scoring goald!

The grotty pitch was quite run - down. But that did not make young Tim frown. Who cares we have no nets in goal?At least I wasn't eaten whole!

As Leon struggled, the net pulled tight. There was no way the lion could fight. He roared with all his massive lungs:

somebody help me! Someone come!