Long ago, in the days when the land was still blind, the Cat and the Rat were the best of friends. They lived together in a small mud hut at the edge of a peaceful village. Their bond was so strong that people often mistook them for siblings. They worked, traveled, and celebrated life together, sharing in each other’s joys and burdens.
One day, the village announced a grand festival. The Cat and the Rat decided to spruce up their home to welcome guests. They worked tirelessly, decorating the walls with nzụ (white clay) and unyi (charcoal), making intricate patterns that reflected the festive spirit. They climbed up to replace their old roof with fresh raffia palm leaves, and when their work was done, they sat down, exhausted but satisfied.
“Now that our home looks beautiful, we must think about the food,” the Cat said, licking his whiskers.
“It must be a meal so delicious that one forgets the world after eating it!” the Rat replied excitedly. They decided to prepare a soup called ‘e richaa e chefuo ụwa’—“eat and forget the world.”
The Plan for the Perfect Soup
To make their soup truly extraordinary, they agreed to contribute special ingredients. The Rat, being small and nimble, offered to sneak into the old woman’s spice basket in the village and steal the finest spices. The Cat, with his hunting prowess, promised to fetch a plump fowl from the barn house down the road.
By evening, the firewood crackled and the pot of soup bubbled merrily on the fire. The aroma wafted through the air, making their mouths water. The pot seemed to sing a tune of its own: “Gwarara gwada, gwarara gwada!”
They waited impatiently, their stomachs rumbling as they inhaled the tantalizing smell. Finally, the soup was ready. The two friends decided to let it cool before eating and thought it best to take a short stroll to distract themselves from the temptation.
The Rat’s Greedy Scheme
As they walked, the Rat’s mind was consumed with thoughts of the soup. He could almost taste the rich broth, the spices, the tender pieces of fowl. But his greed began to whisper darker thoughts. Why should he share such a delicious feast? Why not have it all to himself?
Suddenly, the Rat gasped and clutched his chest dramatically. “Ewoo! Ewoo!!” he cried.
The Cat stopped in alarm. “What is it?” he asked.
“My smoking pipe! I left it back at the hut!” the Rat exclaimed, feigning panic. He begged the Cat to let him run back and fetch it.
The Cat, suspicious, narrowed his eyes. “Be quick, and don’t touch the soup! I’ll wait here.”
The Rat nodded solemnly and darted back toward the hut.
The Great Feast—and the Great Mistake
Once inside the hut, the Rat’s true intentions were revealed. He jumped onto the pot and began devouring the soup greedily. The rich broth, the succulent pieces of fish and meat—all disappeared into his tiny mouth as fast as he could chew. In his frenzy, he tipped the pot over, spilling its contents onto the floor.
The heavy pot landed on top of him, trapping him. The Rat trembled, knowing how furious the Cat would be, but even then, his greed got the better of him. He continued munching on the bits of meat and fish scattered on the ground, trying to enjoy the feast despite his fear.
The Cat’s Discovery
Back on the path, the Cat grew impatient. “Why is the Rat taking so long?” he wondered. Sensing trouble, he ran back to the hut. As he entered, he froze. The once-steaming pot of soup was overturned, and the delicious smell was now mixed with the smoky scent of disaster.
“Ewoo! What happened to our soup?” the Cat roared, his voice echoing through the hut.
He began calling for the Rat, but there was no response. Suspicious, he approached the pot. Slowly, he lifted it—and before he could react, the Rat shot out like a bolt of lightning.
“Rat!” the Cat screamed, furious. He chased the Rat out of the hut and across the yard. The Rat, fueled by fear, ran faster than he ever had in his life, disappearing into a tiny hole in the ground. The Cat clawed at the hole but could not reach him.
The Eternal Feud
From that day on, the Cat swore an oath: “Wherever I see a Rat, I will kill it, for their kind cannot be trusted.”
And so it was that the once-great friendship between the Cat and the Rat turned into an eternal enmity. To this day, Cats hunt Rats relentlessly, a constant reminder of how greed and betrayal can destroy even the strongest bonds.
Moral of the Story
Greed leads to downfall, and betrayal has lasting consequences. True friendship is built on trust, and once that trust is broken, it can never be fully restored.