🐭 The Mouse Who Said Hello

In a tiny hole behind the bookshelf lived a little mouse called Peanut. Every day she peeked out and saw the big cat, Duchess, sleeping on the rug.

Peanut's friends said, "Stay away from cats!" But Duchess didn't look scary. She looked soft. And a little bit lonely.

One day, Peanut took a deep breath, tiptoed across the floor and said, in her bravest squeak, "Hello!"

Duchess opened one golden eye. She looked at the tiny mouse. The tiny mouse looked at her. "Hello," said Duchess slowly. "Nobody has said hello to me in a long time."

"Why not?" asked Peanut. "I suppose they think I'm grumpy," said Duchess. "I'm old, and I like to nap, and I don't play chase anymore."

"I like naps too," said Peanut. "And I don't like chase at all!" Duchess laughed, a deep, rumbly purr. "Then we shall get along very well."

From then on, Peanut visited Duchess every afternoon. Peanut told stories about the world behind the walls. Duchess told stories about when she was a kitten and chased butterflies in the meadow.

On cold days, Peanut curled up in the soft fur on Duchess's back, warm as toast. And when the rain pattered on the window, the big cat and the little mouse listened together, two friends who had been brave enough to say hello.