In the golden heart of the savanna, where tall grasses rippled like waves and acacia trees stretched toward the sun, Sir Lion padded proudly across his land. His mane glowed like fire in the sunlight, and he loved nothing more than to roar so loudly that the whole plain shook beneath him.
The Lanky Giraffe walked nearby, humming those strange little melodies he was so fond of. To Sir Lion, they sounded more like breezes than music.
“I like to roar as loud as possible and scare everyone far and wide,” Sir Lion said, lifting his chin.
“Why do you like to do that?” the Lanky Giraffe asked. “When I hum, I’m so quiet that everyone has to listen. It makes the whole savanna stop and think.”
Sir Lion flicked his tail. He could not imagine anyone choosing humming over a magnificent roar. Roaring felt powerful—important—exactly how a lion should feel.
“I’m the loudest!” he declared. “They will never hear your humming,” he added as he strutted away, certain he had made his point.
So, the two wandered the plains together—Sir Lion roaring, the Giraffe humming.
Sir Lion ROARED with all his might, delighted when the tall grass shuddered and shook beneath the force of his voice. Yes. That was strength. That was presence.
But every time he roared, he noticed something strange: animals who ran from his sound paused when the Giraffe hummed. They tilted their heads, listening as if the quiet tune pulled them closer. Sir Lion tried to hear what they heard, but the melody was so soft it barely brushed his ears.
One day, while the pair wandered through the bush, Sir Lion’s whiskers twitched. Someone unfamiliar was nearby. A poacher crept into the field, a gun slung over his shoulder.
“Quick! Hide behind this tree,” whispered the Lanky Giraffe.
Sir Lion squeezed in beside him, but blending in was never easy for a round, rumbling lion. As he shifted his weight, his paw landed on a dry branch. CRACK!
The poacher spun around and lifted his gun straight at Sir Lion.
Sir Lion’s breath caught in his throat. His paws tingled. His roar—his mighty roar—would not come. He had never felt fear freeze him like this.
Then, through the rustling leaves, he heard it: “Hmm . . . hmm . . . hmm . . .”
The Giraffe’s humming floated to him—steady, slow, sure. Something about the gentle rhythm loosened the tightness in Sir Lion’s chest. The humming wrapped around him like warm air, helping him breathe . . . listen . . . think.
“What is that?” the poacher muttered, stepping toward the sound.
As the man turned his back, the humming grew clearer. Sir Lion felt his strength returning—not wild and reckless, but calm and focused. He drew in a deep breath. His paws steadied. His courage rose.
With one perfect, powerful ROAR, Sir Lion made the ground tremble.
The poacher yelped, dropped his gun, and sprinted across the field as fast as his legs could carry him. Sir Lion watched him flee, his heart pounding but proud.
The Giraffe continued humming a soft tune, his eyes warm as Sir Lion padded toward him.
“Your humming helped me think,” Sir Lion admitted. “It made my roar stronger.”
“Sometimes,” the Lanky Giraffe said gently, “the quietest sound helps the loudest voice know what to do.”
Sir Lion nodded. He understood now. Roaring wasn’t everything. Strength came from calm as well as power.
“Before I roar, I will hum,” he said. “Then, I’ll know I’m heard.”
And from that day on, Sir Lion learned that sometimes the quietest one in the jungle helped him become the most powerful of all.
Copyright 2016 Jennifer Waters
LOGLINE
When a timid moment leaves Sir Lion unable to roar, his quiet friend the Lanky Giraffe helps him discover that true strength comes not from being the loudest, but from listening, calming, and finding the courage within.
PITCH
When Sir Lion sets out each day to prove he’s the loudest animal in the savanna, his quiet companion, the Lanky Giraffe, follows along humming soft melodies that draw listeners instead of frightening them away. But when a poacher suddenly appears in the bush and aims his gun at Sir Lion, the mighty lion freezes—his roar gone, his courage vanished. Only the Giraffe’s steady humming reaches him through the fear, helping him regain his breath, focus his strength, and unleash one perfect roar that sends the poacher running. Grateful and changed, Sir Lion learns that the calmest sound can guide even the boldest heart, and that real power comes not from noise, but from knowing when—and how—to use your voice.
No comments:
Post a Comment