Once upon a time, in days of yore, there was a cat living in one of the houses, guarding its kitchen from the repeated raids of mice, which sought to steal supplies of cheese, meat, bread, and others.
The Cat Falls Ill and His Son Offers Help: One day, the cat caught a cold that made him unable to guard the kitchen in the best manner. The cat had a small kitten, who was brave and loved to help his father. He came to him saying, “Let me, Father, take your place today in guarding the kitchen until you recover.” His father answered him, saying, “Guarding requires strength and attention, and also cunning. You, my dear, are still small.”
The Small Cat’s Persistence in Helping His Father: The small cat insisted and said, “I am strong enough to overcome small mice. Please let me take your place this night.” When the father saw his son’s persistence and strength of will, he agreed to his offer and left him to guard the kitchen that night.
The Wicked Mouse’s Plan for Theft: One of the mice learned of the cat’s illness, and also learned that an inexperienced small cat would take his place. So he prepared a plan to loot the kitchen. In the night, while the small cat was walking and coming in the kitchen guarding it corner by corner, the mouse came to him, saying, “Oh cat, oh cat, wait, do not attack me. Listen to me first.”
The Small Cat and the Cunning Mouse: The cat asked in surprise at the mouse’s position, “Good, what do you want from me? Speak.” The mouse said, “I am a noble mouse. The other mice expelled me because of my opposition to their food theft operations. I have come to you today to offer you my friendship.” The naive cat believed the mouse’s words and felt sorry for him, so he agreed immediately and became his friend. Then he said to him, “Since you do not have a home to shelter you, you can live in the kitchen, and you will also help me guard it from thieves.” The mouse agreed quickly before the cat could change his mind and said to him, “Yes, yes, I agree.”
The Cunning Mouse and the Father Cat: Thus the mouse was able to reach the supplies with the help of its guard, who had given it his trust. But fortunately, the father cat was watching what was happening closely. Thanks to his experience, he understood the wicked mouse’s plan. He entered to them and said, “Peace be upon you both. Who is this accompanying you, my son?” The small cat answered, “He is my friend, Father. He will stay with us because his family expelled him because of his opposition to the theft operations they carry out.” The father cat said, “So you said… he opposes theft operations.”
The Small Cat Learns a New Lesson: But the cowardly mouse began to tremble when he saw the father, for he knew that his trick would not work on an experienced cat like him. The mouse said as he ran away fleeing, “Forgive me, oh cat. I did not know that the cat is your son.” The small cat discovered the mouse’s intention to loot the kitchen when he saw him resorting to fleeing, and he learned not to give his trust to strangers quickly, and to verify their affairs first.