The Cat and the Mouse in Partnership
A Grimm’s Fairytale
Once upon a time there was a cat and a mouse. They lived together. They were partners. The cat said, “Winter is coming. It’s important to save our food. ”
“Here’s a jar of fat,” said the mouse.
“Delicious!” said the hungry cat. The cat wanted to eat all the fat.
The mouse said “No! This fat is for the winter. We will save it for November, December and January.”
The cat did not want to save it for winter. The cat said, “I have an idea. Leave the pot in the church. People do not steal at a church.”
“What a brilliant idea!” said the mouse. So, the cat and the mouse went to the church. They left the pot, but the cat did not want to save the fat. He wanted to steal the fat. He was a bad partner.
The next day, the cat said to the mouse, “Hello Mouse. I’m going to church today. I am going for a baptism. My cousin had a baby. ”
It was a lie. The cat did not have a cousin. There was no baby and no baptism. It was
an excuse to go get some fat from the pot.
The cat arrived at the church. The happy went straight to the pot. In the pot, the fat looked delicious. The cat ate a little. He ate a little off the top.
The cat was happy. He returned home. The mouse said, “Cat! How was the baptism? What is the baby’s name?”
The cat said, “The baby is little. His name is Little Off-the-Top.”
“Little Off-the-Top? That’s a crazy name,” said the mouse, but he did not suspect the cat.
On the second day, the cat imagined the delicious pot. He wanted to steal more fat. He was a bad partner.
The cat said, “Oh Mouse, I’m going to church today. Another cousin had a baby. I want to go to the baptism.”
So, the cat went to church. He was going to steal more fat. He opened the pot and ate. When he finished, there was only 1/2 a pot of fat. The pot was half-full. So the cat went home.
“Welcome home. How is the baby? What is the baby’s name?” said the mouse.
“Oh… the baby’s name… is…” said the cat, unsure. “The baby’s name is Half-full.”
“Half-full? That’s so crazy,” said the mouse, but he did not suspect the cat.
The next day, the cat wanted to steal more fat. He was a bad partner.
The cat said, “I’m going to church today. Another cousin had a baby. There is another baptism.”
“Three babies? Three baptisms? That is a lot!” said the mouse, but he did not suspect the cat.
At the church, the cat ate and ate. Finally, there was no fat left. The pot was all empty.
When the cat arrived at home, the mouse said, “Cat, how is the baby? What is the baby’s name?”
The cat said, “The baby’s name is All-Gone.” The mouse was not very intelligent. He did not suspect the cat.
Soon, winter arrived. It was December. There was no food to eat. The little mouse said, “Cat, it is winter! There is no food, but we saved some food. We saved a pot of delicious fat.”
“A pot of fat?” said the cat nervously. He knew he did not save the fat. He ate the fat. He was a bad partner.
“Yes, the pot is in the church.” said the mouse. “Let’s go!”
So the cat and the mouse went to the church. The cat walked nervously. The mouse suspected something strange.
The mouse arrived at the church. The pot was in its place. He opened the pot, but it was empty! There was no fat!
The mouse was furious! He suspected the cat ate the fat. He said, “Did you eat the fat?”
“Yes,” said the cat.
“Now we have no food saved for winter,” said the mouse.
“Actually, I do have food to eat,” said the cat.
Then the cat attacked the mouse. He was a bad partner. The cat ate the mouse. He was delicious.