The Powerful Friend
A Japanese folktale retold by: David L. Roper
Bobby Brownmouse and Gregory Greymouse were good friends. They ran together in the meadow. They played hide-and-seek in the leaves. Gregory Greymouse was worried.
“We mice are small and weak,” he told Bobby Brownmouse. “I need a powerful friend. I am going to look for the most powerful being in the world.”
“I hope you find what you are looking for,” Bobby said. “I will be here when you get back.”
Gregory Greymouse climbed a tall, tall mountain so he could talk to the sun. He bowed and said “Mr. Sun, I am looking for the most powerful being in the world. Your rays heat the earth and light the whole earth, so you must be the most powerful.”
“No,” said the sun, “I am not the most powerful being in the world. The cloud is more powerful than I. He can cover my face and hide me from the earth.”
Gregory Greymouse climbed another tall mountain until he found the cloud. He bowed and said, “Mr. Cloud, I am looking for the most powerful being in the world. You can cover the face of the sun and hide him from the earth. So you must be the most powerful.”
“No,” said the cloud, “I am not the most powerful being in the world. The wind is more powerful than I. When I try to fill the sky, the wind blows me far, far away.”
Gregory Greymouse searched across the plains until he found the wind. He bowed and said, “Mr. Wind, I am looking for the most powerful being in the world. When the cloud tries to fill the sky, you blow him far, far away. You must be the most powerful.”
“No,” said the wind, “I am not the most powerful being in the world. The wall is more powerful than I. I blow as hard as I can but the wall keeps me out of the house.”
Gregory Greymouse went back the way he had come until he came to the wall. He bowed and said, “Mr. Wall, I am looking for the most powerful being in the world. When the wind blows as hard as he can, you keep him out of the house. You must be the most powerful.”
“No,” said the wall. “I am not the most powerful being in the world. The mouse is more powerful than I. No matter how hard I try to keep him out, he gnaws into me and makes his home.”
Just then, a little mouse stuck his head out of a hole in the wall. To Gregory’s surprise, it was his friend Bobby Brownmouse.
“Hello, Gregory. Welcome back!” said Bobby Brownmouse.
“Hello, Bobby. It is good to be back,” said Gregory Greymouse.
“Do you want to come inside?” asked Bobby. “I have some tasty seeds.”
“Thank you,” said Gregory. “I’m very hungry after traveling so far.”
Bobby said, “After a snack, we can play hide-and-seek in the leaves.”
Gregory said, “That sounds like fun!”
He had a powerful friend all the time but didn’t know it.
Whether you are very, very big or very, very small, friendship is one of the most powerful things in the world.
~The End~
Illustration Copyright © 2010 Barb Bjornson
Copyright © 2010 by David L. Roper