Milo Reaches the Sky

In a quiet corner of Whispering Forest lived a tiny gray mouse named Milo.

Milo was the smallest animal in the forest.

Smaller than Rabbit.

Smaller than Squirrel.

Even smaller than Hedgehog.

Whenever the young animals played together, Milo stayed quietly behind them.

He believed the world was simply too big for someone as small as he was.

Every evening, Milo looked toward the highest hill in the forest.

At the very top stood the Great Oak Tree, its branches stretching high into the clouds.

The older animals always said,

“If you reach the Great Oak, you can see the whole forest.”

Milo dreamed about standing there.

But whenever he took a step toward the hill, his little legs began to shake.

“I’m too small,” he whispered.

“I’ll never make it.”

One bright morning, Rabbit bounced across the meadow.

“I’m climbing the hill today!”

Squirrel twirled her fluffy tail.

“Me too!”

Frog laughed.

“Let’s see who reaches the top first!”

One by one, Milo’s friends hurried up the hill.

Milo watched from below.

He wanted to follow.

He lifted one tiny paw.

Then another.

But the hill looked taller than ever.

Quietly,

he turned around and walked home.

That evening,