Once upon a time, a long time ago, when all animals were still living in good fellowship, the dog invited the cat and the mouse to stay.
- Come at six in the evening, dinner is waiting for you! - she said.
The kitten was picking flowers in the meadow and the mouse was picking strawberries for dessert, so they were preparing to meet their friend.
They went together to the Dog's Den, but when they came to the bank of the stream, the cat said to the mouse:
- You should really wash up a bit, it's not polite to go to a guest house so dusty and dirty!
The little mouse was ashamed, ran down to the water to wash his paws and cheeks. When he returned to the cat, he was licking his whiskers.
- You know, that's how cats wash," he explained, when his friend looked at him questioningly.
They went on their way, and at the dog's house they found a nicely laid table waiting for them.
- Accept these few flowers! - the cat gave her bouquet to her host.
The dog was pleased with the kindness and put the flowers in water and in a vase.
Meanwhile, the mouse searched in vain for the strawberries, but found only the empty plate in his little basket.
- I brought strawberries, my dear dog, but they all disappeared on the way! Did you eat them, best cat? - he looked at the cat.
- That bowl was stained, I just licked it clean while you were washing! - the cat apologised, but the mouse was very angry. He didn't speak to her again during dinner.
The dog brought them soup first. It was delicious, they ate every drop, the cat licked the plate clean. But he licked the plate and even the mug. Then he jumped on the table and swallowed the dog's and the mouse's bowls.
- There is no plate that I can't lick white! - he boasted, then sat back, sated.
The dog did not like this behaviour, but said nothing.
But when the cat said he was bored, the mouse winked at the dog and said:
- Maybe one of us could dance to amuse the others. I'll do it, but only if you prove you can lick every plate white! But if you don't, you'll have to dance until morning.
- So be it!" the cat happily agreed to the bet, as she was sure that she wouldn't miss a single dirty dish.
Then the mouse ran into the kitchen, hustling and bustling around, but he wouldn't say what he was doing.
- Maybe he'll cook something else, the cat thought.
But when the mouse came back after a long time, there was only a little milk in the plate he had brought.
- Is that all? Two minutes and the bowl will be snow white! - the cat laughed and spilled the drink out of the bowl at lightning speed. But what he didn't know was that his cunning little friend had painted kittens on the bottom of the bowl. And dancing kittens at that!
He only saw it when the milk ran out. Then the cat licked it in vain and the sample didn't come off. The plate didn't turn white.
What could he do, what could he not do, he just had to dance. The dog and the mouse had fun with him. They laughed so hard they even shed a tear.
The cat was offended, and started to chase the mouse, and the dog went after it, growling. There went the good friendship.
They say the cats still don't like to dance. But if they see a good morsel in a patterned bowl, they'll jump when you're not looking and try to lick it white. Maybe they'll get it right one day!
If you want a kitten cutlery, check out the Story Plate page!
