Why doesn't the Cat make friends with her cousin?

Burmese folk tale

In long, long ago times, when things were not as they are now, the Tiger was different too. He was strong even then - very strong! But he didn't have any intelligence or dexterity. Sometimes it happens that the strong have all their brains in their bones, but not enough in their heads.

The whole jungle laughed at poor Tiger, and the buffalo, when he met him, always said to his buffalo-lady:

- Look, Tiger! He's not dead yet.

- What does he eat? - wondered the buffalo.

- He must be grazing," replied the buffalo. - We eat grass, but is he worse than us?

And the Tiger tolerated these insults, for he knew that if he chased after his offenders, he would surely bump his forehead on a stump, fall into the swamp, catch his tail on something, and the monkeys would laughingly start falling from the trees.

The tiger was very unhappy. But one day he met Crocodile at a watering hole, and Crocodile gave him some useful advice:

- "You should go to the Cat and ask to be her apprentice.

They say she's very wise. She will not refuse you, for you are her brother.

- Mm-hmm," said Tiger. - A cousin. The cat listened attentively to Tiger's cousin, examined him and said these words:

- You are strong, brother, but you have one weakness: your mind is weak. However, you are not a hopeless fool, for you had enough sense to ask me for help.

So Tiger apprenticed himself to his cousin for three years. He did everything that an apprentice is supposed to do: he ran all the cat's errands, scrubbed the floors, cooked dinner and, when necessary, scratched his teacher behind the ear.

And the Cat took him hunting with her and educated him at every step.

When they left the house, for example, she would say:

- Don't forget to hide your claws. Firstly, they can get dull, and secondly, you are not a dog to go and rattle your claws.

As they entered the forest, the Cat again gave useful advice:

- Lick your nose more often to keep it cold and clean. Keep in mind that a cold nose catches the scent of prey more easily.

And even at home, at dinner, she never forgot to give Tiger some important instruction, like this:

- When you eat or drink, press your ears to hear if the enemy is creeping up behind you.

And don't slurp, don't slurp, please. Lick your tongue slowly, but quickly.

Tiger was a very diligent student. He caught every word, obeyed every instruction and soon made great progress. Yes, Tiger was so successful in all the sciences that Cat was even worried:

"What is it? Tiger is stronger than me, bigger than me. And if he learns all my tricks, all my dexterity, what will I be left with? Second place? "

But Cat realised too late. Three years of the tiger's apprenticeship were over, and he had become a worthy rival for Cat. What could she do? It's impossible to take away the knowledge she put in Tiger's head. After all, the head is such a piggy bank, in which you can only put, but you can not take out.

But the Cat found a way out. Listen to what she did.

When Tiger, having finished his studies, brought his farewell gifts to his honourable mentor, the Cat gave him one last piece of advice:

- If you want to please your teacher, try not only to equal him, but also to surpass him.

Having said these words, the Cat gave Tigger one last test. She offered him a contest to see who could climb a tall tree the fastest.

- One, two, three.

The cat quickly climbed to the top. But Tiger, he didn't lag behind her.

- Well done! - said the Cat. - And now - who will come down faster....

And she jumped down from the top straight to the ground. The tiger, wanting to surpass his teacher, rushed after her, but ...

The cat, small and light, fell softly on all four paws, and the huge Tiger fell down with all his weight.....

When Tiger came to his senses, the cat was no longer there. Afraid of his revenge, she left the forest forever and now lives with people. People take care of her, feed and water her, and even forgive her many of her wild and predatory behaviour. For example, she still has not got used to take birds from the cage, fish from the pond and sour cream from the jug. After all, she is Tiger's cousin. And people put up with all this. They are very grateful to the Cat that the Tiger, having broken once in a fall, no longer climbs trees and cannot reach a man if he climbs higher.