Once there was a little mouse. Little Mouse was like other mice in the forest
except for one thingshe was always sad. No one knew why. Deep down inside Little Mouse was afraid to tell her secrether uncle
was mean to her and hurt her. Each time Little Mouse's uncle took care of her, he chopped off a tiny piece of her tail.
Now it was almost winter and Little Mouse's parents would be away from home for many days looking for seeds and nuts to
eat during the snowy season. Little Mouse would have to stay with her uncle. She was scared. She thought, "I can't live like
this. I have to find someone to help me. Who can I tell?"
Little Mouse told her secret to her best friend, Big Ears. Big Ears did not know how to help Little Mouse, but she said
that they should go right away to a grown-up who would know how to help.
Together they went across the river to see Old Woodchuck. Little Mouse told Woodchuck her secret. It was a hard thing for
Little Mouse to do, but she was very brave. But Old Woodchuck did not believe Little Mouse's story. Woodchuck told her to
stop lying.
But Little Mouse didn't give up. Next Little Mouse went to Old Eagle. Little Mouse told Old Eagle about her problem with
her uncle. Eagle said, "Little Mouse, you have come to the right place. During my years in the forest, other animals have
come to me for help. I will make sure that your uncle stops hurting you."
So Little Mouse got the help she needed and was soon happy like other mice.
