Have you ever come face to face with a tiger? They are scary!

They are supposed to be scary. They are one of the fiercest animals in the Jungle with their loud roar, big paws and sharp claws.

Scared is what should happen, scared is what does happen, but not when anyone meets Tiberius Tiger.

Tiberius is one of the friendliest, smiliest tigers you could ever meet, as he strolls along with a big smile and rosy cheeks swinging his tail.

One day Tiberius’s daddy Melvin said “Son you are a wonderful tiger, everyone loves you…….but that’s the problem even the Zebras, Antelope and small fluffy animals love you. They should be scared of you. You have to learn to be more fierce!”

“But why?” asked Tiberius puzzled, “I love all my friends, I don’t want to scare them, I just want to play.”

Melvin sighed “I didn’t want to tell you son but down at the watering hole you are a laughing stock. The other Lions and Tigers are laughing at you behind your back. It’s getting very embarrassing for your Mother and me.”

“We have decided to take drastic action” continued Melvin in a stern voice, “we must toughen you up and make you scarier. Your first lesson starts tomorrow.”

The next day as the warm morning sun rose in the sky Melvin took Tiberius to a quiet part of the Jungle.

“First lesson” he said “Get your claws out.”

“My claws” moaned Tiberius “but they are sharp and hard, I don’t like them. Once, I accidentally scratched myself. I would rather keep them hidden away.”

“OUT!!!” shouted Melvin. Tiberius pushed his claws out one at a time.

“IN!! OUT!! IN!! And OUT” shouted Melvin. “Good, Good now practice that tonight, Tiberius “

“Second lesson, your roar” said Melvin. “Take a deep breath ,feel the growl in the pit of your stomach, roll your head back, open your mouth wide and let out a deep roar.” Melvin let out a huge, loud, deep “Roar!!!” which shook the trees and made Tiberius quiver.

“I could never do that!” said Tiberius nervously.

“Have a go” insisted Melvin.

Tiberius did as he was told, he followed his father’s instructions, but what came out was not a roar, but rather a soft squeak.

“That needs a lot of work, but practice makes perfect “said Melvin.

“The next lesson is stalking” said Melvin.

“Stalking what’s that?” inquired Tiberius.

“Well instead of strolling along in that happy, bouncy sort of way of yours. Try crouching down, flatten your back, keep your nose to the ground, and move slowly through the bushes. Creep up on the animals unexpectedly, and then let out a huge ROAR and watch them run away in fear.”

Tiberius didn’t like the sound of that; he didn’t want to scare his friends. He would rather play with them. But, to keep his father happy, he decided to go along with it.

He was quite good at the stalking thing; it was much easier than the big loud roar.

Melvin insisted his son practice his frightening exercises everyday.

The other Tigers and Lions looked on in admiration as Tiberius practiced each day, learning to be more fierce and scary with every roar.

Then, one day he saw his friend Ziggy Zebra grazing on the lush grass near the watering hole. Instead of trotting over to see her as he usually did, swinging his tail, grinning from ear to ear, he crouched down, stomach flat to the ground, moving slowly through the long grass, claws sharp, and finally letting out a huge deep ROAR.

Ziggy looked around in fright and started running as fast as she could, Tiberius ran after her. “Wait! Wait!” he shouted “it’s me, Tiberius, your friend.”

Ziggy looked round “Tiberius!” she panted out of breath. “What do you think you are you doing frightening me like that, I was really scared.”

The little tiger explained how his dad had been giving him lessons on how to be fierce. “But I don’t like my friends running away from me when all I want to do is play” said Tiberius downheartedly. “The trouble is I also don’t want to upset my parents. Oh, what am I to do?” cried Tiberius.

Ziggy pondered on the situation. She could see the problem, after all, he was a tiger, and all tigers are supposed to be scary.

“I’ve got it!” shouted Ziggy with excitement “why don’t you do all the scary things your dad has taught you and I will let the other animals know. Then, we can all run away pretending to be scared, but when we out of sight, round the corner, we can have a great time, playing together as we usually do.”

“What a good idea” said Tiberius “that would keep everyone happy. The lions and tigers would think I am very fierce and scary, but all my friends will know I am really their friend and we can still play together “.

So that’s what they did.

Tiberius was a strong, tough and fierce tiger in front of the lions and tigers, but to his friends he is still ………

Tiberius the Big Friendly Tiger