Once, in a town by the sea, there lived a little mouse. And in those parts there was an incredibly beautiful ocean.
The ocean was a true helper to the people, giving them fish and allowing them to sail to other lands. Not a single ship sank in that ocean, for it was kind and honest.
There was no pride in it and no wish to show its might to people. But other oceans often tried to show that arguing with them was dangerous...
The mouse loved to sit on the shore. Every time he brought with him a lovely flower or a bright leaf as a gift for the ocean. And the ocean loved to gently brush the mouse with its waves, humming its beautiful song to him. And there was no greater happiness for the mouse than meeting the ocean, and for the ocean no greater happiness than seeing its little friend again and again.
Yes, they were good friends: an ocean of incredible beauty and strength, and a small, quite 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 little paws to make their way through the snow to the shore, but the mouse could not leave his friend without a visit. In rain or snowfall, regardless of anything, he came to where his friend sang his song. For there is nothing more important than time, attention and support when times are hard that we can give 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 special tenderness and wishing only the best... You will forget, because there is nothing special about a little mouse, just like hundreds of other little mice... And it hurts me just to imagine that my friend the ocean will forget me, for I have no other oceans. And there are no better friends than you...
The ocean answered the mouse, gently wrapping his paws in a wave:
Silly little mouse. I could never forget your warmth, the kind words, the flowers and bright leaves you gave me that adorned my waves. Your friendship I will never forget.
The mouse smiled softly. He knew that one day the ocean, made proud by its strength, as other oceans are, 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 came. A proud eagle swooped down onto the shore, looked around, spread its strong wings and said:
You are an ocean, and you have not sunk a single ship. People are not afraid of you at all, which means 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 best among the oceans!
The ocean listened carefully to the eagle, and as soon as it finished speaking, it replied:
I am good precisely because I am not like the others. People value what I give them, and I do not understand why they should fear me. They love me without fear and never harm me. Why should I rage, sink ships, instil fear into people's hearts, take lives and make families suffer? Is that right? No, no, none of that is for me.
The eagle flapped its wings and circled above the ocean:
Fool, that is how all oceans behave, which is why they carry that proud name. And people sail their expanses 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. Did you not wish to rest from the ships that move over your waters? Did you not wish, just once, to show people your strength? Do it, and become a true ocean!
The eagle flew away, and the ocean fell to thinking:
The eagle is right, I am tired of the ships, and their coming and going will not stop until I show my might. Then people will fear me. And truly, what kind of ocean am I if not a single ship, not a single person, has learned the power of my waves and remained forever in the endless depths of my waters? Perhaps the eagle is right. People must understand that I am in no way worse than my brother oceans.
Having finished its thoughts, the ocean heard the familiar pattering of little paws, but after the eagle's words it no longer held any value for it, and only irritated it, because its friendship with the mouse made its waters weaker.
The joyful mouse approached the ocean, but the wave did not gently wrap his little paws. Instead it pushed him away 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 in place. But the ocean said to him:
Go away, I do not need friends. A little mouse cannot be a friend to a vast, powerful ocean. Clear off, I am telling you nicely. It is time for me to show my might to people, as my brother oceans do. It is ridiculous for an ocean to be so kind, and to be friends with a mouse on top of that!
The mouse, upset, trudged home, not understanding how his friend could have changed so much in only a few hours. But what could he do? If someone does not wish to see you, should you force yourself upon 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 to his burrow, he suddenly noticed a little girl on a hillock who was, for some reason, 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, glancing at the mouse who was watching her intently, said:
My name is Mary. My friend Eric has gone out to fish, and the ocean, always our calm and kind friend, has suddenly gone wild. Eric is about to drown in his little rowing boat, tossed about on huge, frightening waves. I doubt, little one, that you could help. And I can do nothing either, because I am terribly afraid of water. I will not keep you, go on 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 persuade the ocean to calm down, and it would spare Eric.
You are mistaken, Mary. Although I am small, I can help you. I only need a little boat to suit my size. The ocean and I are old friends, but someone told it that it must be frighteningly powerful. And it, made proud by the strength hidden in its waves, has hurt its friend and may destroy many ships and people, Eric included. I will try to persuade it to become its old self again. Of course, I am not sure it will hear me, but I will do everything possible to bring back our friendship, yours and mine.
And I know Eric, he is very kind. He always treated me to the tastiest fruits and berries, and cheese as well. And he plays lovely melodies on the guitar, I love listening to his music. I only need a little boat...
The girl looked at the mouse with hope:
Little one, that would be wonderful! I will give you a boat, for Eric always has small boats which he gives to the neighbourhood lads. He gave me one too, I will bring it now.
The girl brought a little 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 by its waves. Mary and the mouse watched in horror as, far off, Eric's barely visible boat rocked on the waves.
Without a moment's 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 Eric, but behind the huge waves nothing could be seen from his small boat. The mouse did not know how to begin talking to the ocean so that it would hear him and let Eric return home, so he began like this:
My friend ocean, you are still my friend. I doubt that, made proud by your strength, you will hear me, but still... You were a special ocean, kind, helping people, calm. Now you are like the other oceans, which destroy countless lives in their waves. I beg you: become your old self again! Become a kind friend to all of us! Remember the mouse who came to you in any weather, because you are dear to him. Do not destroy Eric, 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 found himself in the water.
The mouse exhausted himself and could no longer move his paws to stay on the surface. Vanishing into the ocean's waves, he managed to say only this:
Forgive me, ocean, it seems I was a poor friend. Let Eric go home, do not take him from those who hold him dear. On the shore Mary is waiting for him, his faithful friend...
The ocean heard the mouse's words, remembered how it had hurt its friend by listening to the eagle, and understood what a brave step the little one had taken to save the boy. It stopped raging and, pushing the mouse ashore to Mary's feet, whispered guiltily:
How could I? For I am not like all the other oceans. No ship, no boat should sink in my waters. In this lies my strength, this is what makes me unique. How could I hurt a friend, trying to be cruel like my brothers? Forgive me, little mouse, I should never have spoken words that hurt any friend to hear. My brave little one, to save another's friendship and give Mary back her friend, who might have perished in my waves, you were willing to perish 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. Mary wept, holding him in her hands, and did not even notice that Eric had stepped ashore from his boat. The boy came up to Mary, saw the mouse and recognised him at once. It was he who had come to listen to his guitar, there could be no doubt.
Eric carefully 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 Eric, he was very glad and nestled against the boy's palm. And Mary was happy that the brave mouse was alive.
Thank you, my brave little friend, for saving me in the raging ocean and helping me return home, to my Mary, 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 Eric, lowering the little one onto the sandy beach.
Thank you for bringing me my friend back! I am so glad Eric is alive and no harm has come to him. I can only add that I too shall always be glad to see you, echoed Mary, after Eric.
The mouse was very happy, so he simply looked at the children, content that he had managed to save the one who was dear to the girl.
I am glad you are not crying any more, Mary. And I am also glad that my friend heard me, squeaked the mouse.
It is time for us to go. Until we meet again, little mouse! Until we meet again, ocean! Always stay yourself! said Eric and Mary, as they set off for their homes.
Until we meet again, may your path be kind! said the ocean and the mouse, saying goodbye.
The boy and the girl went away, and the mouse stayed on the shore.
How beautiful you are, my friend, when your waves do not rage and gently touch the shore, rocking on their backs boats and ships. I recognise you among all the others, because only you are so kind, a true helper, and not a frightening, hostile water giant that thinks only of itself.
The ocean was glad that the mouse was beside it, alive. As usual, it gently brushed his little paws with a wave.
I am not glad myself that I decided to be like my brothers, listening to the proud eagle. I am different, I am kind, raging does not suit me. Forgive me, I hurt you and nearly destroyed you and Eric. Whether you can still consider me a friend, I do not know, but I have no one dearer than you. And never again, whatever anyone says, will I hurt my brave little friend.
The mouse looked at the ocean. He was glad to be speaking with it again.
I was not offended. One cannot be offended by someone who is dear to them. I am very glad that you have realised you need not be like the other oceans to carry that proud name. For you are the best of oceans precisely because you are kind. So never change, and stay yourself...
This story about the friendship of a mouse and an ocean tells, my dear reader, how important it is to treasure true friends, of whom there are not so many. About how important it is to stay yourself, without trying to be like everyone else.
Remember this tale as an important lesson, passed on to you with care by me, who heard it from the wind that knew the mouse and the ocean. And treasure your true friend.
