Once, in a seaside town, there lived a little mouse. And nearby was an incredibly beautiful ocean.
The ocean was a true helper to the people. It gave them fish and let them sail to faraway lands. Not a single ship was ever lost in its waters, for it was kind and honest.
It had no pride and no wish to show its power to people. Other oceans often tried to prove that arguing with them was dangerous...
The little mouse loved to sit on the shore. Each time he brought along a pretty flower or a bright leaf as a gift for the ocean. And the ocean loved to gently brush the mouse with its waves, singing him its beautiful song. There was no greater happiness for the mouse than meeting the ocean, and for the ocean there was no greater happiness than seeing its little friend again and again.
Yes, they were good friends: the ocean, incredible in its beauty and strength, and the small, rather unremarkable mouse. The little mouse was precious to the ocean, and the vast, boundless ocean was precious to the mouse.
When winter came, it was harder for the tiny paws to make their way through the snow to the shore, but the mouse could not leave his friend without a visit. In the rain, in the snowfall, no matter what, he came to the place where his friend sang his song. Because there is nothing more important than time, attention and support when times are hard, and we cannot give anything more precious to those we hold dear. More than once the mouse said, sitting on the ocean shore:
One day you will forget your little friend, forget the warmth of a soul, the eyes that look at you, feeling a special tenderness and wishing only the best... You will forget, because there is nothing special about a little mouse, just like hundreds of other mice... And it hurts me to imagine that my friend the ocean will forget me, for I have no other ocean. And there is no better friend than you...
The ocean answered the mouse, gently wrapping his paws in a wave:
Silly little mouse. I could never forget your warmth, your kind words, the flowers you gave me and the bright leaves that decorated my waves. I will never forget your friendship.
The mouse smiled softly. He knew that one day the ocean, proud of its strength like the other oceans, would forget its small, weak friend.
So the little one spent day after day on the shore, sad that one day this would come to an end. And then that day arrived. A proud eagle swooped down onto the shore, looked around, spread its strong wings and said:
You are an ocean, and yet you have not sunk a single ship. People are not afraid of you at all, so they do not value what you give them. Take an example from the other oceans. Then you will become proud and strong, and perhaps the greatest of all the oceans!
The ocean listened carefully to the eagle, and as soon as he finished his speech, it replied:
I am good precisely because I am not like the others. People value what I give them, and I cannot understand why they should fear me. They love me without fear and do not harm me. Why should I rage, sink ships, strike terror into people's hearts, take lives and make families suffer? Is that right? No, no, all of that is not for me.
The eagle flapped its wings and circled above the ocean:
Fool, that is how all oceans behave, and that is why they bear their proud name. And people sail their vast waters less and less, afraid of being lost forever in the endlessly beautiful world of their waves. But they are not afraid of you, knowing that you will not harm them and that they can always return home. Don't you ever wish to rest from the ships that sail across your waters? Don't you ever wish to show people your strength just once? Do it, and become a true ocean!
The eagle flew off, and the ocean fell into thought:
The eagle is right, I am tired of the ships, and their coming and going will not stop until I show my power. Then people will fear me. And really, what kind of ocean am I if not a single ship or person has felt the strength of my waves or been left forever in the endless depths of my waters? Perhaps the eagle is right. People need to understand that I am no worse than my brother oceans.
As the ocean finished its thoughts, it heard the familiar pitter-patter of little paws, but after the eagle's words, it no longer valued the mouse and only found his friendship irritating, as it made its waters weaker.
The joyful mouse came up to the ocean, but instead of gently wrapping his tiny paws, a wave pushed him back with force, so that the mouse fell onto the sand on his grey back. The mouse did not understand what had happened. He got up, shook himself off and decided to stay where he was. But the ocean said to him:
Go away, I do not need friends. A little mouse cannot be a friend to a boundless, powerful ocean. Clear off, I am telling you nicely. It is time for me to show my might to the people, as my brother oceans do. It is ridiculous for an ocean to be so kind, and to be friends with a mouse!
The upset mouse trudged home, unable to understand how his friend could have changed so much in just a few hours. But what could he do? If people do not want to see you, why force yourself on them? The mouse had known that this moment would come one day, but that did not make losing a dear friend any easier.
As the mouse made his way towards his burrow, he suddenly noticed a little girl on a small hill, who for some reason was crying. The mouse sensed how hard things were for her and decided to find out what had happened. Perhaps he could help. The girl noticed him at once, and the mouse squeaked softly:
What is your name? Why are you crying, what has happened?
The girl wiped her tears and, looking at the mouse who was watching her so attentively, said:
My name is Mia. My friend Liam has gone out fishing, and the ocean, which is always calm and kind, our friend, has suddenly gone wild. Liam is about to sink in his tiny little boat, rocking on the huge and terrifying waves. I doubt you, little one, could help. And I can't do anything either, because I am terribly scared of the water. I won't keep you, go on with your way.
But the mouse had no intention of leaving. He had to help the girl and speak to the ocean, which he still considered his friend. Perhaps he could convince the ocean to calm down, and it would save Liam.
You're mistaken, Mia. I may be small, but I can help you. I only need a little boat that's the right size for me.
The ocean and I have been friends for a long time, but someone told it that it must be frighteningly strong. And it, made proud by the strength hidden in its waves, has hurt its friend and may destroy many ships and people, Liam included. I will try to persuade it to become its old self again. Of course, I am not sure it will listen to me, but I will do everything I can to bring back our friendship, yours and mine.
And I know Liam, he is very kind. He always shared with me the most delicious mangoes, passionfruit and berries, and cheese too. And he plays beautiful tunes on his guitar, and I love listening to his music. If only I had a little boat...
The girl looked at the mouse with hope:
Little one, that would be wonderful! I will give you a little boat, because Liam always has little boats that he gives to the boys in the neighbourhood. He gave me one as well, and I will fetch it now.
The girl brought a boat from home, and together with the mouse she set off to the ocean shore. The ocean was raging, and it seemed nothing would be left whole in its waves. Mia and the mouse watched in horror as Liam's small boat, barely visible, bobbed on the waves in the distance.
Without a second thought the mouse jumped into the little boat, and the girl, understanding everything, set the tiny boat on the water. The mouse peered into the distance, trying to make out Liam, but behind the huge waves nothing could be seen from his little boat. The mouse did not know how to begin talking to the ocean so that it would listen to him and let Liam return home, so he began like this:
My friend ocean, you are still my friend. I doubt that, puffed up with your strength, you will listen to me, but still... You were a special ocean, kind, helping people, calm. Now you are like the other oceans, which destroy many lives in their waves. I beg you: become your old self again! Be a kind friend to us all! Remember the mouse who came to you in any weather, because you are precious to him. Do not harm Liam, he is a good boy, please let him return home.
But the ocean was unyielding, continuing to toss the two light boats on its waves. Suddenly the mouse's little boat capsized, and the little one ended up in the water.
The mouse grew exhausted and could no longer paddle with his paws to stay afloat. Vanishing into the ocean's waves, he managed to say only this:
Sorry, ocean, I must have been a poor friend. Let Liam go home, do not take him from those who hold him dear. Mia is waiting for him on the shore, his loyal friend...
The ocean heard the mouse's words, remembered how it had hurt its friend by listening to the eagle's words, and realised what a brave step the little one had taken to save the boy. It stopped raging and, pushing the mouse ashore at Mia's feet, whispered guiltily:
How could I? I am not like the other oceans. Not a single ship or boat should sink in my waters. That is my strength, that is what makes me unique. How could I hurt my friend while trying to be cruel like my brothers? Forgive me, little mouse, I should not have said words that hurt any friend. My brave little one, to save another's friendship and return Mia's friend, who could have perished in my waves, you were ready to die yourself, just so that I would hear you. Forgive me, open your eyes, I want to see you happy again.
But the mouse did not open his eyes. Mia cried, holding him in her hands, and did not even notice Liam step ashore from his boat. The boy came up to Mia, saw the mouse and recognised him at once. This was the mouse who had come to listen to his guitar, there was no doubt about it.
Liam gently took the little creature in his palms. He knew exactly how to help his rescuer, and after doing everything necessary, he managed to bring him back to life. The mouse opened his eyes. Seeing Liam, he was overjoyed and nestled into the boy's palm. And Mia was happy that the brave little mouse was alive.
Thank you, my brave little friend, for saving me in the raging ocean and helping me return home, to my Mia, my best friend. I will never forget your brave deed, and of course I will be glad to see you again in my home, and I will gladly play the guitar for you, ― said Liam, setting the little one down on the sandy shore.
Thank you for bringing my friend back to me! I am so glad that Liam is alive and that nothing terrible happened to him. I can only add that I will always be happy to see you too, ― Mia echoed Liam.
The mouse was very pleased, so he simply watched the two children, happy that he had managed to save the one who was dear to the girl.
I'm glad you're not crying any more, Mia. And I'm also glad that my friend heard me, ― squeaked the mouse.
It's time for us to go. See you later, mouse! See you later, ocean! Always stay yourself! ― said Liam and Mia, heading home.
See you soon, and may your path be kind! ― the ocean and the mouse said their goodbyes.
The boy and girl went off, and the mouse stayed on the shore.
How beautiful you are, my friend, when your waves are not raging, but gently touch the shore, rocking the boats and ships on your back. I recognise you among all the others, because only you are so kind, a true helper, and not a frightening, self-centred, hostile water giant.
The ocean was glad that the mouse was beside it, alive. As always, it gently brushed his little paws with a wave.
I am not happy with myself for deciding to be like my brothers, after listening to the proud eagle. I am different, I am kind, and raging does not suit me. I am sorry, I insulted you and nearly destroyed you and Liam. Whether you can still consider me a friend, I don't know, but I have no one dearer than you. And never again, no matter what anyone says, will I hurt my brave little friend.
The mouse looked at the ocean. He was glad to be talking with it again.
I wasn't offended. I cannot be offended by someone who is dear to me. I am very glad you understood that you do not need to be like the other oceans to bear that proud name. You are the best of oceans precisely because you are kind. So never change, and stay yourself...
This story about the friendship between the mouse and the ocean tells us, my dear reader, how important it is to treasure true friends, of whom there are not so many. It tells us that it is important to stay yourself, and not try to be like everyone else.
Remember this tale as an important lesson, passed on to you by me, who heard it from the wind, which knew the mouse and the ocean. And cherish your true friend.
