The Mouse and the Bull
A bull accidentally steps on a mouse's tail, prompting the mouse to seek revenge, but it fails, realizing arguing is pointless.
Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, in a small village by a beautiful lake, there lived a big, friendly bull. This bull liked to drink water from the lake when he was thirsty.
One bright and sunny day, the bull went to the lake to drink some water. As he got close to the water, he accidentally stepped on the tail of a tiny mouse who was resting nearby.
The mouse squealed in pain and quickly stood up, looking angrily at the bull. Seeing his tail hurt, the mouse became very angry and decided to get back at the bull.
The mouse climbed onto the bull's back and started biting him with his sharp teeth. But the bull, who was enjoying the cool lake water, didn’t feel the small bites and didn't know the mouse was there.
After a while, the mouse got tired of biting and jumped off the bull's back. He stood in front of the bull and showed him the hurt tail, explaining the pain the bull had caused.
The bull was surprised to hear this and asked if he had really stepped on the mouse's tail. When he understood what had happened, he said he was sorry for causing pain without knowing.
The mouse, feeling sad, went home in pain, realizing it was no use to fight with the bull.
In a small town, there is a big, friendly bull. He likes to drink water from the lake when he is thirsty.
One sunny day, the bull goes to the lake. He wants to drink water. He steps on a small mouse's tail by mistake. The mouse is sitting in the sun.
The mouse cries because it hurts. He looks mad at the bull. He is sad because his tail hurts.
The mouse wants the bull to know it hurts. He climbs on the bull's back. He starts to bite the bull. But the bull does not feel the bites. He keeps drinking water. He does not know the mouse is there.
After some time, the mouse stops biting. He jumps down. He stands in front of the bull. He shows his hurt tail. He tells the bull it hurts.
The bull is surprised. He asks if he steps on the mouse's tail. When he knows what happened, he says sorry.
The mouse is still sad and in pain. He learns it is not good to fight with the bull.
Once upon a time, in a small village by a beautiful lake, there lived a big, friendly bull. This bull liked to drink water from the lake when he was thirsty.
One bright and sunny day, the bull went to the lake to drink some water. As he got close to the water, he accidentally stepped on the tail of a tiny mouse who was resting nearby.
The mouse squealed in pain and quickly stood up, looking angrily at the bull. Seeing his tail hurt, the mouse became very angry and decided to get back at the bull.
The mouse climbed onto the bull's back and started biting him with his sharp teeth. But the bull, who was enjoying the cool lake water, didn’t feel the small bites and didn't know the mouse was there.
After a while, the mouse got tired of biting and jumped off the bull's back. He stood in front of the bull and showed him the hurt tail, explaining the pain the bull had caused.
The bull was surprised to hear this and asked if he had really stepped on the mouse's tail. When he understood what had happened, he said he was sorry for causing pain without knowing.
The mouse, feeling sad, went home in pain, realizing it was no use to fight with the bull.
In a village near a sparkling lake, there lived a large and gentle bull. The bull enjoyed drinking water from the lake whenever he felt thirsty.
One bright and sunny day, the bull walked towards the lake to quench his thirst. As he reached the water's edge, he accidentally stepped on the tail of a small mouse who was relaxing by the shore.
The mouse squeaked in pain and jumped up, glaring at the bull. Seeing his tail completely crushed, the mouse felt angry and decided to seek revenge.
Determined to make the bull understand his pain, the mouse climbed onto the bull's back and started biting him with his sharp teeth. However, the bull, who was enjoying the cool water, didn't feel the mouse's tiny bites and remained unaware of the little creature on his back.
After some time, the mouse grew tired of biting and jumped off the bull's back. Standing in front of the bull, he showed him his injured tail and explained the pain he had caused.
The bull was surprised to hear this and asked if he had truly stepped on the mouse's tail. When he realized what had happened, he apologized for the pain he had caused unintentionally.
Feeling defeated, the mouse returned home in pain, understanding that arguing with the bull was pointless.
Once upon a time, in a village with a shimmering lake that was so sparkly, it looked like a bunch of fairies had a glitter fight, there lived a big and friendly bull. Oh, this wasn't just any bull; he was a connoisseur of fine waters. He'd saunter down to the lake and sip, not slurp, mind you!
One sunny day, as bright as a brand-new gold coin, the bull decided it was time for a nice drink. He ambled towards the lake, humming a jolly tune. But what's this? He accidentally stepped on the tail of a tiny mouse, who was sunbathing, working on his tan for the summer!
'Ouch!' squeaked the mouse, jumping up like a popcorn kernel on a hot stove. He glared at the bull with eyes as wide as saucers. 'Do you mind? I'm trying to get a suntan here, not a pancake tail!'
The mouse was so angry he could dance a jig on a pinhead! He decided he'd make that bull feel his pain. So, he scampered up the bull's back and started biting him, trying his best to nibble like a bunny munching a carrot.
But the bull? He just kept on enjoying the cool lake, humming away. 'Ah, a lovely breeze,' he thought, utterly clueless about the mouse's nibbling protest.
The mouse grew tired of biting, and with a dramatic sigh, jumped off. 'Hey, you!' he squeaked, 'You, sir, have crushed my tail. Look at it! It's as flat as a pancake in a comedy skit!'
The bull blinked and looked down, 'Did I do that? Oh dear, I didn't feel a thing. Was it a soft breeze or was it you? My apologies, tiny friend. Next time, pick a safer spot for sunbathing, eh?'
The mouse's cheeks puffed out, and he stormed off home, feeling rather defeated. 'Pointless to argue with a bull,' he thought, limping away, 'Especially one that thinks I'm a breeze.'
And so, the mouse learned that seeking revenge on someone who doesn't even know what he did wrong can be as fruitless as trying to teach a chicken to tap dance. The bull continued to enjoy his lake, and the mouse? Well, he found a safer spot for sunbathing, far away from any stomping hooves.
Beside a glistening lake so blue,
Lived a bull, gentle and true.
To sip the water, cool and clear,
He’d come quite often, year by year.
One sunny morn, so hot and bright,
A mouse was basking, quite out of sight.
But the bull, eager for his drink,
Stepped on the mouse’s tail in a blink!
“Ouch!” cried the mouse, his tail in dismay,
Looking at the bull who had walked his way.
Thinking of revenge, a plan he did devise,
To make the big bull realize.
Onto the bull’s back, the mouse did climb,
Biting him, thinking, “Now, revenge is mine!”
But the bull, feeling the lake’s cool embrace,
Didn’t notice the mouse, nor his frantic pace.
Tired and defeated, the mouse came down,
Showing the bull his tail, with a frown.
“I'm so sorry!” the bull exclaimed with a sigh,
“I didn’t mean to harm you, oh my!”
The mouse, in pain, headed home that day,
Realizing with some things, it’s better not to play.
Word Finder
Friendly
Nice and kind to others.Thirsty
Wanting to drink water.Sunny
When the sun is shining bright.Lake
A big area of water.Mistake
Something done wrong without meaning to.Hurts
Causes pain or feels bad.Mad
Very angry or upset.Climbs
Moves up something, like a tree.Surprised
Feeling when something unexpected happens.Fight
To try to hurt someone else.
Village
A small group of houses in the countryside.Thirsty
Feeling a need to drink some water.Nearby
Close to a place or thing.Accidentally
Not done on purpose, by mistake.Squealed
Made a loud, high-pitched cry of pain.Quickly
Moving fast or in a short time.Angrily
Feeling or showing anger or annoyance.Sharp
Having a point or edge that can cut.Enjoying
Taking pleasure or happiness from something.Explaining
Telling someone clearly about something so they understand.
Sparkling
Shining with bright light like stars or glitter.Quench
To drink until you are not thirsty anymore.Accidentally
Doing something without planning or by mistake.Crushed
Pressed so hard that it is damaged or broken.Revenge
Hurting someone back because they hurt you first.Determined
Wanting to do something very much, not giving up.Creature
Any living thing that is not a plant.Apologized
Said sorry for doing something wrong.Unintentionally
Doing something without meaning to or by mistake.Defeated
Feeling like you lost after trying hard.
Shimmering
Sparkling and shining with light.Connoisseur
Someone who knows a lot about something.Saunter
To walk slowly and happily.Ambled
Walked in a slow and relaxed way.Jolly
Happy and cheerful.Suntan
Skin that has become darker from the sun.Nibble
To eat something in small bites.Utterly
Completely or totally.Dramatic
Very exciting and full of action.Revenge
Hurting someone because they hurt you first.
Glistening
Shining brightly, often with flashing light.Gentle
Kind and careful not to hurt others.Basking
Lying in and enjoying warmth, like sunshine.Eager
Very excited and wanting something very much.Dismay
Feeling of unhappiness and worry.Revenge
Hurting someone because they hurt you first.Devise
To plan or invent something.Frantic
Very worried or excited, unable to control emotions.Embrace
Holding someone tightly in your arms.Harm
Hurt or damage something or someone.
Understanding Questions
- Where does the bull like to drink water?
- From a river
- From a lake
- From a pond
- From a well
- What does the bull do by mistake?
- Steps on the mouse's tail
- Drinks all the water
- Eats the mouse's food
- Pushes the mouse into the lake
- Why does the mouse cry?
- He is scared of the bull.
- He is hungry.
- His tail hurts.
- He is lost.
- What does the mouse do to the bull?
- Climbs on the bull's back and bites him
- Runs away from the bull
- Drinks water with the bull
- Pushes the bull into the lake
- What does the bull do when he knows he hurt the mouse?
- Laughs at the mouse
- Ignores the mouse
- Says sorry to the mouse
- Runs away from the mouse
- What did the bull enjoy doing at the lake?
- How did the bull accidentally hurt the mouse?
- What did the mouse do to get back at the bull?
- How did the bull react when the mouse showed him the hurt tail?
- What did the mouse realize at the end of the story?
- How did the mouse react when the bull accidentally stepped on his tail, and what did he decide to do?
- What was the bull doing while the mouse was attempting to bite him, and why didn't he notice the bites?
- After failing to hurt the bull, how did the mouse try to make the bull understand his pain?
- What was the bull's reaction when he realized he had stepped on the mouse's tail, and what did he do next?
- How did the mouse feel at the end of the story, and what lesson did he learn from the experience?
Reflection Questions
- Why did the mouse decide to seek revenge on the bull?
- How did the mouse try to make the bull feel his pain? Did it work?
- Can you remember a time when you tried to make someone understand your feelings, but it didn't work?
- What does this story teach us about communication and understanding other's feelings?
- How can we apply the lesson from this story in our lives to manage our feelings and reactions when we feel wronged or hurt?
Fable Quotes
In forgiveness, we find the path away from the pointless cycle of revenge.
Understanding is the key that unlocks the door to compassion and empathy.
Understanding another's pain, even unintentionally caused, opens the path for empathy to heal hearts.