The Cat and Rats story

“Welcome my dear children! Good morning! “

Mrs. Selvi started her online classes with a smiling face and melodious voice.

“So, we are meeting today after the Annual Day Celebrations. Did you all enjoy the Annual Day programme?” asked madam Selvi.

“Super”

“Amazing”

Several voices rose in appreciation of the Annual Day celebrations.

“Well, my tiny tots, today, I am going to tell you a story. Are you ready to listen? “Yesss”

“There lived a cat in a house. Two rats were also living there. The Cat was the pet of that family. It was fed with milk, fish and all sumptuous food.

But the two rats were not pet animals. They had to search for their food. They would come out of their holes during night and look for their food.

The Cat always tried to catch the rats when they roamed about in the night. The Cat tried very hard.

But it could never catch the rats.

One night the Cat spoke to the rats in a sweet voice.

“My dear rats, you know very well that I have been trying to catch you. But hereafter I will not trouble you.”

The rats were surprised to hear the Cat speak so sweetly.

The rats wondered why the Cat was speaking to them instead of pouncing on them. They did not know how to react. They were silent.

The Cat continued...

“My dear Rats! As I am not able to catch you, the master has decided to send me out. He will bring another stronger and smarter cat tomorrow. Today is the last day for me in this house.”

The rats were in doubt that this could be one of the tricks to trap them. So, they listened carefully.

“Oh! My friends!” said the Cat, “I am very sorry for my rude behaviour. I troubled both of you every night. That I did for my master’s sake. In fact, I like you very much. I should accept that you are more brilliant and smarter than me. “

The rats were elated to hear the Cat speak in praise of them.

The Cat was almost in tears and said “I just wanted to bid farewell to you! Let me take leave of you!” Its voice broke down.

The two rats who were in their hiding place so far, could not control their own tears and came out crying, “Oh! Our friend!”

The Cat folded its hands and whispered, ”Let us part as friends.”

The rats were really touched by the words of the Cat. They came nearer. They stood in front of the Cat.

The Cat was waiting only for this moment. When the rats came nearer to the Cat, it pounced on them and caught them together.

“How cleverly we were avoiding this cunning Cat all these days. Today, we have fallen in its trap,” cried the rats.

Within no time, the Cat killed the rats and ate them.

Madam Selvi completed her story and the children clapped their hands.

“How was the story? I would like you all to speak one or two sentences about what you felt about the story” said Madam Selvi.

“The Cat is clever. The rats are foolish” said Ratan.

“Madam, we can change this story a little bit” said Ramya.

“Ok. What change do you suggest?”

“Mm… The rats came out of their hiding place. They looked at the cat. They felt that the cat was deceiving them with sweet words. So, before the Cat pounced on them, the rats rushed back to their hiding place and also closed it tightly. The Cat was unsuccessful that night also…”

“Good! Nice thought”

“Madam, I have another idea,” said Rajiv.

“Come on Rajiv! What is your idea?” Madam Selvi.

“The rats came out of their hiding place. They wished him well. They asked the cat to accept their parting gift and threw a bell tied to a cord. It fell around the neck of the Cat. Then, they ran back to their hiding place. From that moment onwards, whenever the Cat walked, the sound of the bell could be heard. So, the rats were always able to escape from the Cat.”

“Wow, very brilliant idea Rajiv! “

The whole class applauded and appreciated the new version of the story.

Dear children, can u also think of another ending to the story?