Milo was a very small mouse with very big ideas. He loved collecting shiny pebbles for his cozy nest. One sunny morning, he found the shiniest pebble *ever*! It sparkled like a tiny star. But… it was stuck! It had rolled into a little hole, and Milo couldn’t reach it, no matter how hard he stretched.
Milo tugged and pulled. He wiggled and jiggled. He even tried to blow it out, but the pebble wouldn’t budge. He started to feel very frustrated. “I can do this myself!” he squeaked, but his voice sounded wobbly. He pushed and pushed, and almost tumbled head over heels into the hole!
Old Man Fitzwilliam, a wise badger, was passing by. He saw Milo struggling. “Having a bit of trouble, little one?” he asked kindly. Milo, feeling embarrassed, mumbled, “I… I can get it myself. It’s just… stuck.”
Old Man Fitzwilliam smiled gently. “Sometimes, even the bravest mice need a little help. It’s not a sign of weakness, you know. It’s a sign of cleverness – knowing when to ask!” He carefully used a small twig to nudge the pebble, and *pop*! It rolled right into Milo’s paws.
Milo’s eyes lit up. “Wow! Thank you, Old Man Fitzwilliam!” He felt a warm glow inside, not just from the shiny pebble, but from the kindness of the badger. He realized asking for help wasn’t scary at all. It was actually… helpful!
“You’re very welcome, Milo,” said Old Man Fitzwilliam. “Remember, it’s good to try things on your own, but it’s *always* okay to ask for help when you need it.” Milo held his shiny pebble tight and scurried back to his nest, feeling proud and happy.
That night, snuggled in his cozy nest surrounded by his pebbles, Milo thought about his day. He learned that even though he was a small mouse, he could do big things – especially when he wasn’t afraid to ask for a little help from his friends. And that made him feel very, very brave. Now close your eyes, little one, and dream sweet dreams, just like Milo.