Within a thick jungle lies a family of seven mice, living within the thick bush.

The eldest mice

child had a problem: the mice was scared of everything. From the muted buzz of a fly to the
whistling of the wind in the leaves, the eldest mice would run away from its troubles.
On one sunny day, the family of mice wandered the floor to search for a meal to eat,
when a sudden crack on the ground shook the earth, devouring the mouse father in the
process.
Daddy, no! shrieked the five mice as they watched their father disappear into the
darkness.
Dont worry, my family, I am still alright, shouted the father to his family. Yet I am stuck
within the earth. I must travel the path of the broken ground in order to see the light once more.
Ill return to you as soon as I can, my precious mice. With that, his footsteps turned to a
whisper.
As time passed, the remaining mice weeped as they waited for father mouse to come
home, with the oldest mice child crying the most. It looked up to the sky and saw the sun shining
brightly. It climbed up a tall tree to meet the star above.
Why do you continue to shine Sun? Why are you so cheerfully bright while my father is
gone? it asked in a anxious voice, afraid of how the sun may act.
The Sun replied in a sympathetic tone, Well, young mouse, I continue to shine so that
everyone else does not sit in darkness and gloom. I shine on so that other may find light to lift
their spirits.
The mouse thought over the suns answer. If that is true, can you shine extra bright on
my family, to cheer them up?
Im afraid not, replied the Sun. If I shine bright on only your family, then all the other
creatures of this world will have less light to lift their spirits. As the oldest child, you must help
your mother bring light to your siblings. Go now, shine light on the gloom.
The mouse followed orders and ran back to its family. The glimpse of its siblings crying
uncontrollably made the elder mouse realize that there are others that are more afraid than he
is.
Come now, my mice siblings, cheer up, stated the mouse. Father wouldnt want us to
act like this. We need to be patient and wait for his return. He will come home, and we must be
prepared for that day to come. The mouse held all of the mice together in a warm hug.

A light glowed from within the oldest mice, clearing the rain clouds inside his family. The
mouses strength broke through its fear, keeping itself together for the sake of its siblings. After
much time passed with mother mouse and the eldest mouse taking care of the family, father
mouse eventually returned, and the mice family was back together once more.