Leo the lion cub loved shiny things! But most of all, he loved collecting coins. Whenever his Papa Lion gave him a coin for helping with little chores – carrying twigs for the fire, or helping Mama Lion sort berries – Leo would jingle it happily in his paw.
One day, Leo saw the most wonderful thing in Old Man Tortoise’s shop: a bright red bouncy ball! It was the perfect size for pouncing and chasing, and Leo wanted it *right now*. He ran to Old Man Tortoise, but when he counted his coins, he didn’t have enough.
Leo’s face fell. “I don’t have enough coins for the bouncy ball,” he mumbled sadly.
Old Man Tortoise smiled kindly. “You could spend all your coins now on something small, Leo, or you could save them up for something you *really* want.”
Leo thought about this. Saving meant waiting. Waiting was hard! But the bouncy ball was so bright and red… He decided to try saving. He made a little pile in his room, and every time he earned a coin, he carefully added it to the pile.
It wasn’t easy. Sometimes, Leo saw a yummy mango treat he wanted, or a colorful feather to add to his collection. But he remembered the bouncy ball and resisted the urge to spend his coins. He told himself, “Save, save, save for the bouncy ball!”
Mama Lion helped Leo make a chart with pictures of coins. Each time he added a coin to his pile, he colored in a space on the chart. Seeing the chart fill up made him feel proud and excited.
Finally, the day came when Leo had enough coins! He raced to Old Man Tortoise’s shop, his heart thumping with joy. He carefully counted out the coins, and Old Man Tortoise handed him the bright red bouncy ball.
Leo bounced the ball all the way home, higher and higher! It was even more fun than he imagined. He realized that waiting and saving had made getting the ball even *more* special.
That night, snuggled next to his Mama and Papa, Leo said, “Saving is hard, but it’s worth it!” Papa Lion smiled. “You learned a very important lesson today, Leo. Sometimes, the best things are worth waiting for.” And Leo drifted off to sleep, dreaming of bouncing balls and shiny coins.