The Lion’s Busy

Leo the Lion celebrates his tenth birthday, receiving a book as a gift. He learns from the book that lions rarely live beyond ten years, which makes him realize his own mortality. This discovery sets the stage for the events that follow, as Leo's age becomes a critical aspect of the story.

Beaky Buzzard, who had sent Leo the book, arrives with the intention of eating him for his meal, taking advantage of Leo's age and vulnerability. Beaky begins planning his attack, signaling the start of his repeated attempts to hunt Leo throughout the story.

Beaky tries to kill Leo by making him slip off a cliff using a banana peel, aiming to cause his fall and make him an easy target for dinner. Leo manages to survive the fall, setting up the ongoing conflict between the two characters.

Beaky makes a burger out of Leo's tail and tricks him into biting it, causing Leo to jump in pain. He then catches Leo in a roasting pan and begins preparing him for dinner, showcasing Beaky's persistent but inept plans.

Leo points out to Beaky that buzzards typically wait until prey is dead before eating, but Beaky refuses to wait, insisting on eating Leo while he is still alive. This leads Leo to defend himself and fight back against Beaky's aggression.

Leo tries to fend off Beaky using a club, swinging wildly but missing each time. Beaky evades the attacks easily and takes cover in a tree, initiating a comical chase between the two characters.

Beaky coats the tree trunk with oil, causing Leo to slide down uncontrollably and crash onto the ground. Beaky mocks Leo's clumsy attempts to reach him, escalating their rivalry with slapstick humor.

Using climbing hooks and multiple added tree trunks, Leo persistently climbs higher to reach Beaky and capture him. Beaky, quick to adapt, keeps adding trunks to prevent Leo from catching him, demonstrating his quick thinking.

Leo finally reaches the top of the increasingly tall tree, hoping to catch Beaky, who then starts chopping the tree down from below. Leo, now frightened, pleads with Beaky to stop, but Beaky continues, causing Leo to fall and be dazed.

After falling, Leo comes to his senses and sees Beaky attempting to cook his tail, which he has tied up to look like sausage links. Frustrated and desperate, Leo plans further escape from Beaky's grasp.

In a last-ditch effort, Leo tries to escape by launching himself in a rocket towards the Moon, seeking refuge from Beaky's constant pursuit. His plan seems promising until he encounters Beaky waiting there too.

Realizing he's trapped, Leo hides in a cave on the Moon and barricades himself inside for years, living in paranoia and stress over Beaky's continued threat. His prolonged confinement highlights his fear and isolation.

After many years, the elderly Leo is overwhelmed by stress and fears he can no longer escape. He finally comes out to surrender himself to Beaky, who has also aged and can no longer eat meat, revealing his new fondness for marshmallows.