In the middle of a sunny meadow, a tiny mouse named Milo and his best friend, a cheerful robin named Ruby, sat on a branch overlooking the grass. They were an odd pair—Milo with his whiskers twitching with excitement and Ruby fluttering her bright red wings.

Milo sighed dramatically, looking up at the sky. “Ruby, I’ve decided something.”

Ruby cocked her head. “What’s that?”

“I want to fly,” Milo declared, his tiny paws gesturing to the clouds. “I want to soar through the sky like you.”

Ruby tried not to laugh. “Milo, you’re a mouse. Mice don’t fly.”

Milo puffed up his chest. “Well, maybe no mouse has ever tried hard enough. I’m going to be the first!”

The Failed Experiments

The next day, Milo began his experiments. His first attempt involved tying leaves to his arms. “See, Ruby?” he said, flapping wildly. “It’s just like wings!”

Ruby perched on a nearby branch, trying to stifle her giggles. “Milo, leaves aren’t feathers.”

Undeterred, Milo leapt off a rock. For a brief, glorious moment, he was airborne—before tumbling into a bush.

“Still needs work,” Milo muttered, brushing twigs off his fur.

His second attempt was even more ambitious. Milo borrowed a kite from the farmer’s shed and tied it to his back. As the wind picked up, the kite lifted him a few inches off the ground. “I’m doing it, Ruby! I’m flying!”

“Milo, watch out for the—” Ruby began, but it was too late. A gust of wind sent Milo spinning out of control, landing him in a pile of hay. “Fence,” Ruby finished with a sigh.

The Balloon Plan

Milo’s grandest idea came later that week. He had spotted a balloon at the farmer’s market and immediately knew it was the answer. “This is it, Ruby,” he announced, tying the balloon string around his waist. “This will take me to the clouds!”

Ruby wasn’t convinced. “Milo, I really don’t think—”

But Milo wasn’t listening. The balloon lifted him off the ground, and for the first time, he felt weightless. “I’m flying, Ruby! I’m really flying!”

Ruby followed him nervously as the balloon floated higher. “Milo, this is dangerous! You don’t know how to steer that thing.”

Milo grinned, the wind ruffling his fur. “Who needs steering when you’ve got this view?”

Just then, a sharp gust of wind carried Milo straight toward a tree. The balloon snagged on a branch, and Milo dangled precariously above the ground. “Uh, Ruby? A little help?”

Ruby flapped up to him, shaking her head. “I warned you, Milo. Flying isn’t as easy as it looks.”

“Fine, you were right,” Milo admitted. “But can you please get me down before I become bird food?”

With a few quick pecks at the string, Ruby freed Milo, catching him on her back as he fell. They landed safely on the ground, Milo clutching her feathers for dear life.

Acceptance

Once they were both safe, Ruby gave Milo a stern look. “Milo, you’re a great mouse. You don’t need to fly to be special.”

Milo sighed. “I just wanted to know what it felt like. To see the world the way you do.”

Ruby softened. “How about this? Whenever you want to see the sky, I’ll give you a ride. Deal?”

Milo’s eyes lit up. “You mean it?”

“Of course,” Ruby said, laughing. “What are friends for?”

From then on, Milo and Ruby went on weekly adventures, with Milo riding on Ruby’s back as they explored the skies together. Milo may not have been able to fly on his own, but with Ruby’s help, he soared higher than he ever dreamed.