The Mouse

Preface:
I want to write a fable about someone who accidentally gives her power away. A story with zero subtlety. One that will remind me, and any others like me, that it is important to hide one's vulnerability. I am writing this preface in case I fail in my efforts for clarity. The moral of this story is that it is unwise to deliberately, or accidentally, make oneself weak.

The Mouse:
Once, there was a mouse. She was a busy mouse and she ran to and from her house each day gathering food for the day, and for the future. She loved her house, and relaxed in it whenever she had the time. Most days she was a happy mouse. Some days the weather would be bad, or food would be difficult to obtain, and so she would be less happy. Other times, for no apparent reason, she was sad.

It was on one of these sad days that she met a handsome marmalade cat with emerald eyes. She was moping about the garden listlessly. He was sprawled out in a patch of sun on a patch of green grass the same color as his eyes. The cat was not interested in the mouse. He was an old spoiled, well-fed house cat. He didn't need to chew on stringy furry mice like her. Unlike most cats, he didn't even really enjoy hunting; he much preferred sitting on his mistress's knee.

"Hello Miss Mouse," he said, more out of boredom than anything else. The mouse squeaked.

"Hello Cat."

"You look sad today, Mouse."

"I am sad today, Cat. If you want to eat me, I won't mind." The mouse threw herself at the cat's feet.

"Is that so," Cat wondered. He had just eaten a big bowl of mackerel and didn't have much appetite. Also, hunting an animal strewn before him wasn't much of a challenge. He was a cat, though, and so he was curious about this small sorrowful creature before him. He wanted to know more about her. "I don't think I'm hungry today, Miss. If you want, you can climb up on my back and I'll take you home."

Mouse was surprised. If he took her home, he would know where she lived and then her home wouldn't be safe. However, because she was sad, she didn't care.

"Oh, Cat. You are behaving strangely for a cat. I have never been on a Cat's back before, and perhaps it will cheer me." She climbed up his onto his marmalade back and crouched there. She clung onto his tail when he started to move. She directed him past the azaleas, through the hydrangeas, and then under the willow tree to her mouse hole. He flopped down and she climbed off. She hugged his front paw goodbye and he purred.

"Bye, Miss M. I hope you feel better. "

"Bye Bye, Cat. Thank you." Seeing the small outside hole where she lived satisfied the cat's curiosity. He returned to laze in the sun and promptly forgot the encounter. The Mouse, a bit tired after her adventure, and still a little sad, decided she should rest in bed.

The next day, when the sun came up, the mouse jumped up with it. She felt well rested and ready to gather food. She was happy. Then, she remembered that she had shown the cat where she lived. From that day on she could never again fully enjoy her little house, despite her happy temperament, because she was worried that the cat could return and eat her up.