Crash ~Justin Bieber~

Chapter 74 ~ Lion Paw, Part 1

(Randy's Pov)

There is an old children's story about a lion and a mouse.

In the story, a clumsy mouse irritates a great sleeping lion. The mouse pleads for mercy and promises the lion that if he spares her life, she mouse will someday repay the lion.

The lion laughs at the idea but frees the tiny mouse, never believing that something so small could eventually be so useful. But the lion's belligerence is proven wrong, and one day the mouse stumbles upon the lion and finds him in incredible pain. The mouse makes good on her promise and removes a sharp thorn from the lions paw.

Some say this story teaches children to be tolerant of things that are deemed lesser or smaller then themselves. They say it teaches children to be kind to one another because sometimes, small friends can deliver big favors.

I say it teaches fascination.

I say it's not a coincidence that the lion let the small mouse so close to a vulnerable paw. Sometimes, small and gentle things can catch the interest of things that are great and powerful. A lion can catch a mouse and fall in love with the innocent and caring nature that such a powerless creature can bring. A mouse is different from everything it knows. A mouse cares little about power or hierarchy. A mouse is harmless. A mouse can be sweet.

When you think about it, a lion could never let another lion remove a thorn from its paw. The threat would be too great. There would be danger in letting a predator so close. But it's different with a mouse. A mouse is loyal to a lion, like prey is loyal to the predators that keep it safe.

A mouse will fight for the lion's life, because the lion's life spares theirs.

That's what makes the mouse so fascinating to the lion. The mouse is motivated by nothing but the lion's best interest. It plots with the lion, not against him. It stands behind him, not infront of him. And in the height of danger, nobody but the mouse can talk the lion down.

The lion won't let anyone else that close.

~*~

(Rachel's POV)

When Justin and I were younger, our parents were concerned about our closeness. For a while they even forced us to spend less time together. We were closer then most children. Some said we were too close. When Justin cut himself, I would cry. When I scraped my knee, Justin was convinced that he had hurt his knee too.

The doctors called it sympathy pain; they said we would grow out of it.

I don't think we ever did.

I don't think that's a bad thing. I think if you know how to hurt for someone else, you know how to think for them too.

Going after Tanner wasn't in the best interest of Justin.

I knew that already.

"I fell"

"You fell?" Justin asked, bending down to look at me. He had come looking for me after a long absence and he found me still sitting on the bedroom floor. "What did you fall into?"

"Into - into the wall"

"How did you manage that?"

"I tripped"

"Backwards?"

"Yes"

"That's - a unique way to fall"

"I guess I'm unique"

"I guess so" he smiled, "C'mere clumsy"

His arms helped me stand and then they wrapped around me; they were arm's capable of breaking someone's neck, or worse, they were arms capable of pointing Randy in someone's direction.