Hermes, the speedy messenger god with wings on his sandals, had a thought one bright morning. "I wonder," he mused, "just how much do humans really like me?" He was pretty sure he was very popular, but he wanted to know for sure.

So, he decided to do a little investigating. He put on a simple cloak and a wide-brimmed hat to hide his famous face and flew down to a busy town. He walked into a sculptor's workshop, a place filled with amazing statues.

"Wow!" Hermes said, pretending to be an ordinary customer. He pointed to a magnificent statue of Zeus, the king of the gods, looking very powerful with a thunderbolt in his hand. "How much for this incredible statue of Zeus?"

The sculptor, a friendly man with dusty hands, smiled. "Ah, a fine choice! That one, sir, is one hundred silver pieces. He is the king, after all!"

Hermes nodded. "Makes sense." Then he saw a graceful statue of Hera, the queen of the gods, standing nearby. "And this beautiful one of Hera?"

"She is ninety silver pieces," the sculptor replied. "A true queen."

Hermes was feeling pretty good. If Zeus and Hera were so valuable, then surely a statue of him, the clever and quick Hermes, would be worth a lot too! He looked around and finally spotted a statue of himself, complete with his winged sandals and traveler's hat.

Trying to sound casual, he asked, "And what about this one? The one of Hermes?" He puffed his chest out a tiny bit, expecting a very high price.

The sculptor looked at the Hermes statue, then back at the customer. "Oh, that one?" he said with a friendly smile. "Well, if you buy the statue of Zeus and the statue of Hera, I'll throw that Hermes statue in for free!"

Hermes's eyes went wide. For free? He, the great messenger god, was just a little extra something? He didn't buy any statues that day. He just thanked the sculptor and quietly walked out of the shop, his hat pulled a little lower. He learned that sometimes, what we think of ourselves isn't always what others think, and it's good to be humble.

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