Miss Cuddlywumps retells a Russian classic, with a few adaptations
Once upon a time, a cat and a rooster lived in a cozy little
house together and were great friends. The cat took care of everything like
rent and food, while the rooster spent his days admiring himself in the mirror.
One day, the cat had to go out and do some, you know, “cat things.” Before he
left the little house, he told the rooster to stay safe inside and not even
open the door or window to anyone. But as soon as the cat was out of sight,
along came a sly and hungry fox, who scattered some grain under the window and sang
out to the rooster to come and get it. She also sang of his supposed great handsomeness
and of how much she would love to just see him for a moment.
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| Rooster, pretty but not smart. Pays no rent. © Teodota | Dreamstime.com - Rooster Photo |
Now, we know birds are not very smart (really, the smartest
thing this rooster ever did was to team up with a wise cat to protect him), and
this rooster was particularly vain about his looks, so he opened the window and
stuck his head out, whereupon the fox seized him by the neck and carried him off
into the woods. The rooster of course called out for help, and his friend the
cat, not being too far away, heard him and ran to save him. He clawed at the
fox until she finally released the poor rooster, who was most distressed to
have lost a few feathers in the scuffle.
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| Fox, has a plan. Will soon have a meal. © Tamagocha | Dreamstime.com Angry Red Fox Photo |
When they were home safe and sound, the cat made the rooster
promise to never listen to the fox again. The rooster promised.
The next day, the cat again had to go out, and before
leaving, he reminded the rooster not to go outside, open the door or window, or
pay attention to any foxes that happened by. The rooster promised. But as soon
as the cat was out of sight, along came that same old fox. Again she scattered
grain under the window and sang out to the rooster, adding in a few verses
about his beautiful feathers, and again the rooster opened the window and stuck
his head out, only to be snatched up by the fox. Again the rooster called out
for help, and again his friend the cat ran to his rescue.
When they were home safe and sound, the cat again made the rooster
promise to never, ever listen to the fox. The rooster promised.
The next day—the very
next day—the cat again had to go out. This time he had to go farther away
to do his cat things, and he reminded the rooster not to go outside, open the
door or window, or listen to any foxes. The rooster promised. But not long
after the cat had gone, along came the fox. Again she scattered her grain under
the window and sang her enticing song to the rooster. Again the rooster opened
the window and stuck his head out, and again the fox snatched him and ran off
into the woods. Again the rooster called for help, fully expecting his friend
the cat to come along and save him. But this time the cat was too far away to
hear him, and so help never came for the poor rooster. The fox made rather a
tasty meal of him, leaving only a few of those beautiful feathers behind.
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| Cat, seeking new roommate. Successful applicant will have job, no feathers. © Pirxyazon | Dreamstime.com - Cat.Photo |
Now when the cat returned home, at first he was upset to
have lost his friend, for he knew the fox must have taken the rooster and
devoured him. But then he thought, “Well, there’s nothing to be done with a
friend who won’t listen to your good advice.”
He also resolved to get a roommate who was (a) smarter and
(b) had a job and could pay part of the rent.
The end
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