Once upon a time, there lived a mouse named Micky in a deep forest. He had a cozy little home inside an old oak tree, where he had everything a mouse could desire—a soft bed made of moss and a supply of treats. But Micky didn’t like being alone, so he decided to invite his cheerful cousin Ricky to visit.
He cleaned his little home until it sparkled and prepared a hearty feast. When Ricky arrived, Micky greeted him with a smile: “Come in, my friend, today we will enjoy ourselves!” The table was laden with bowls full of crispy potatoes, juicy pieces of meat, and fragrant cheeses. “Try this wine, it’s like something out of a fairy tale!” Micky laughed and raised his glass. “What a feast!” Ricky praised, as they told each other funny stories and laughter echoed throughout the oak tree.
But their joy was suddenly interrupted by an uninvited guest—a hungry cat with sharp claws. It burst in, and the two mice barely managed to hide in a narrow hiding place in the corner of the dwelling. “Quick, or he’ll eat us!” squeaked Micky. They were safe, but the cat didn’t give up so easily. He ate all the leftovers, but it still wasn’t enough for him. He decided to wait for the mice. To lure them out, he began meowing and scratching at the walls until everything shook.
Micky and Ricky covered their ears to survive the noise and began to devise a plan. “We’ll wait until he’s sleepy,” whispered Miky. The cat did indeed begin to yawn and his eyes began to close. This was their moment! But the mice also wanted to torment the cat a little for ruining their feast. When he fell into a deep sleep, they quietly crept out, grabbed a rope, and tied all four of his paws tightly together. Then they squeaked right into his ear and quickly ran away.
The cat woke up with a meow, but with his legs tied, he stumbled and fell right on his nose. Micky and Ricky were long gone, laughing and rejoicing at their clever trick. The cat, though enraged, finally understood that the little mice had outsmarted him. In order for the mice to untie him, he had to promise them that he would never chase them or try to eat them again. And he kept his promise.
