Lion And Reindeer Friends

Leo the Lion was bursting with excitement! He hadn’t seen his best friend, Remy the Reindeer, all morning, and he had a brilliant idea for a greeting. “I’ll jump out from behind the big oak tree and shout, ‘ROAR-prise!’” he thought, giggling to himself. “Remy loves surprises!”

Remy, meanwhile, was having a peaceful morning. He was carefully polishing his antlers, humming a quiet tune. He was a gentle soul who loved quiet moments and hated loud, sudden noises. His heart always did a funny flip-flop when things happened too fast.

As Remy walked past the big oak tree, Leo took a deep breath. “Now!” he thought. He sprang out, yelling, “ROAR-PRISE!”

But Remy didn’t giggle or shout with joy. Instead, his eyes went wide with alarm! He let out a little “EEP!” and stumbled backward, dropping his polishing cloth into a puddle. His heart hammered like a drum, and he felt a shiver run all the way down to his hooves.

Leo stopped short. His big, happy grin slowly faded. “Remy? What’s wrong? Aren’t you surprised?” he asked, his voice now quiet.

Remy took a shaky breath. “Leo,” he said, his voice a little wobbly, “you scared me! My heart feels like it’s going to jump right out of my chest! I thought… I thought something bad was happening.”

Leo’s ears drooped. He hadn’t meant to make his best friend feel bad. He just wanted to make him laugh. “Oh, Remy, I’m so sorry!” he said, truly meaning it. “I thought it would be fun. I didn’t think it would scare you.”

He helped Remy pick up his wet cloth and patted his back. “I forgot that you don’t like sudden surprises,” Leo admitted. “I like them, so I thought everyone did. But you’re not me, are you?”

Remy gave a small smile. “No, I’m not. But I know you didn’t mean any harm, Leo.”

“Next time,” Leo promised, “I’ll just walk up and say ‘Hello!’ or maybe hide a small, happy surprise for you to find, like your favorite berry under a leaf. No more jumping out!”

Remy’s smile grew bigger. “That sounds like a much better surprise, Leo,” he said. “The best kind, actually.”

From that day on, Leo learned that even if he loved a certain kind of fun, his friends might not. The best way to show someone you care is to understand what makes them happy and comfortable, not just what makes you happy. And sometimes, the simplest “Hello” is the very best surprise of all.

Comments