Deep in a quiet cave, a tiny god named Hermes opened his eyes for the first time. But Hermes wasn't like other babies. Oh no! By lunchtime on his very first day, he was already bored with his cradle. "Time for an adventure!" he thought, and with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he hopped out.

He tiptoed out of the cave, looking for something fun to do. Soon, he saw a field full of the most beautiful, shiny cows he had ever laid eyes on! These were Apollo's special cows, and Apollo loved them very much. A cheeky idea popped into Hermes's head. "I think I'll borrow these," he giggled to himself.

But Hermes was a very clever baby. He knew he couldn't just lead the cows away. So, he made the cows walk backward, so their hoofprints looked like they were going the other way! And for himself, he made special sandals out of bark and leaves so no one would recognize his tiny footprints. He carefully led fifty of Apollo's best cows to a secret hiding spot in another cave. He even made sure they had fresh grass and water.

Feeling quite pleased with his cleverness, Hermes skipped back towards his own cave. On his way, he found a big tortoise shell. "Hmm," he thought, "what can I do with this?" He took some reeds and stretched some strings made from cow gut (from two he'd set aside for a snack, though he hadn't eaten them yet) across the hollow shell. Plink! Plonk! He had just invented the very first lyre, a beautiful musical instrument.

Then, quick as a wink, he cleaned himself up, snuck back into his cradle, and pretended to be a fast-asleep, innocent baby, wrapped snugly in his blankets.

Soon, Apollo, the god of music and the sun, came to check on his beloved cows. "Where are my cows?" he boomed, his voice echoing through the hills. He was not happy at all. He saw the strange backward footprints and was very puzzled. But Apollo was wise, and somehow, he guessed that the new baby god, Hermes, might have something to do with it.

He stormed to Hermes's cave. "Your son stole my cows!" he told Hermes's mother, Maia.
Maia looked at baby Hermes, all bundled up and looking sleepy. "My little baby? Steal cows? Impossible! He hasn't left his cradle all day!"
Hermes just blinked his big baby eyes. "Cows? What are cows?" he gurgled, looking as innocent as a fluffy cloud.

Apollo was not fooled. "We'll see about that!" he said, and he scooped up baby Hermes (who was surprisingly strong for a baby) and flew straight to Mount Olympus, to see Zeus, the king of all the gods and also Hermes's father.

Zeus listened to Apollo's angry story. Then he looked at tiny Hermes, who was trying to look very, very small and innocent. Zeus had to hide a smile. He knew Hermes was a little trickster, even on his first day!
"Hermes," said Zeus, his voice kind but firm, "tell Apollo where his cows are."

Hermes knew he couldn't trick Zeus. He wiggled a bit and then, with a little sigh, he agreed to show Apollo where the cows were hidden. He led Apollo to the secret cave.

Apollo was glad to see his cows safe and sound, but he was still a bit cross with the cheeky baby god. Just then, Hermes picked up the lyre he had made from the tortoise shell and started to play. The music was so beautiful, so magical, that Apollo forgot all about being angry. His eyes lit up! He had never heard anything so lovely.

"That... that instrument is amazing!" Apollo exclaimed. "What is it? Where did you get it?"
"I made it!" said Hermes proudly, plucking another sweet tune.
Apollo, the god of music, loved the lyre more than anything. "I'll tell you what," said Apollo. "You can keep a few of the cows if you give me that wonderful lyre."
Hermes thought this was a great deal. "Okay!" he chirped. He also promised never to steal Apollo's things again.

And so, Apollo got his beautiful lyre, and he wasn't angry anymore. He loved to play it, filling the world with music. Hermes, the clever baby, became the god of travelers, merchants, and quick-witted tricksters (but mostly good ones!). And from that day on, Apollo and Hermes, despite their bumpy start, became good friends.

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