Leo was a young lion with a very big roar. It wasn’t just loud, it was *magnificent*. It echoed through the savanna, making the birds sing louder and the monkeys chatter with excitement. But Leo didn’t want anyone else to use his roar. He thought it was special, *his* roar, and only he should get to make the savanna shake with its power.
Whenever his friends, Zara the zebra and Kip the giraffe, asked if they could try, Leo would shake his mane and say, “No! It’s my roar! You wouldn’t understand how to do it properly.” Zara and Kip would look at each other sadly. They just wanted to experience the joy of a powerful roar, even for a moment.
One sunny afternoon, Old Man Tembo, the wise elephant, noticed Leo’s grumpy behavior. He lumbered over and gently asked, “Leo, why do you seem so unhappy? The savanna feels a little quieter than usual.”
Leo sighed. “It’s my roar, Tembo. I love it, but I don’t want to share it. I’m afraid if others use it, it won’t be special anymore.”
Tembo chuckled, a deep rumbling sound. “Leo, a roar is a wonderful thing, but its magic doesn’t come from *who* makes it, but from the joy it brings. Imagine how much more wonderful the savanna would be if everyone could share in that joy.”
Leo thought about this. He pictured Zara and Kip trying to roar, their faces lit up with excitement. He’d never thought about it that way before. He’d been so focused on keeping his roar special, he hadn’t considered how much happiness it could spread.
Hesitantly, Leo turned to Zara. “Zara,” he said, “would you… would you like to try?” Zara’s eyes widened. “Really, Leo? Oh, yes, please!” Leo showed Zara how to take a deep breath and open her mouth wide. Zara tried, but instead of a mighty roar, a little squeak came out. They both giggled.
Next, it was Kip’s turn. Kip stretched his long neck and tried his best, but his roar sounded more like a gentle breeze rustling through the leaves. Leo, Zara, and Kip all laughed together. It wasn’t about making a perfect roar; it was about having fun.
Leo then showed them how to practice, and slowly, with Leo’s encouragement, Zara’s squeak became a little louder, and Kip’s breeze became a bit stronger. They weren’t as powerful as Leo’s roar, but they were *their* roars, and they were proud of them.
As the sun began to set, Leo, Zara, and Kip practiced roaring together. The savanna filled with a chorus of roars – big and small, loud and gentle. It was the happiest sound Leo had ever heard. He realized that sharing his roar hadn’t made it less special; it had made it even more wonderful.
Old Man Tembo smiled. “See, Leo?” he said. “Sharing doesn’t diminish joy; it multiplies it.” Leo nodded, his heart full. He learned that day that the best things in life are even better when shared with friends. And from then on, Leo happily shared his roar with everyone on the savanna, spreading joy and laughter wherever it went.