The Parrot and the Cat
Long ago a pretty house stood beside a cool forest stream. A kind man and his clever parrot lived in this house. The parrot had bright feathers and sang happy songs all day. In the garden a sly and furry cat walked around. Every day the cat hungrily watched the bird at the window.
One day the man went out and left the window open. The parrot happily left its cage and sat on the window. The sly cat came near slowly and spoke very sweetly. "Hello, little friend, why don't you come down to play?"
The parrot answered, "You are a cat, you will eat me." The cat smiled and said, "I am your good friend now." But suddenly he jumped and reached out with his sharp claws. The clever parrot saw the danger and flew to a branch. The cat missed, fell down hard and hurt his nose.
The parrot sat safely on the branch and began to sing. Full of shame, the sly cat left the garden quietly. The little bird never believed sweet words from sly animals again. We must not trust an enemy and must stay careful. Water sleeps, but the enemy never sleeps.