The River, the Cat, and the Fisherman – A Tale of Friendship and Cooperation

Summary: A fisherman struggling to catch anything meets a clever cat who helps him fish. Together, they catch a massive fish, turning the catch into a celebration for the whole village. This story teaches that kindness and cooperation are always rewarded.

Along the wide river, in a small village, lived a fisherman. Every day, he took his net and went to the river to feed his family. But lately, luck had abandoned him: the river seemed empty, and no matter how hard he tried, his net came up without fish. “What should I do?” thought the fisherman in despair as he sat by the shore with empty hands.

One morning, as the sun was just rising, the fisherman returned to the river. He was about to cast his net when he suddenly heard a soft rustling behind him. Turning around, he saw a large, fluffy cat. The cat came closer, sat next to him, and gazed at him with bright, intelligent eyes.

“Hello, fisherman,” said the cat. “Why do you look so sad?” The fisherman, surprised that the cat could speak, told her about his misfortune. The cat thought for a moment and finally said, “Let me help you. I sense there’s a big fish in this river. But to catch it, we’ll need to work together.”

The fisherman agreed. The cat had a clever plan: she would sit by the shore and swish her tail in the water to attract the fish. When the fish came close, the fisherman would quickly cast his net. Impressed by the cat’s ingenuity, the fisherman took his position.

The cat began slowly moving her tail through the water, creating gentle ripples. Soon, a large shadow appeared beneath the surface. It was a huge fish, drawn by the motion. The fisherman, recognizing the moment, cast his net. The fish thrashed, trying to escape, but the net was strong, and the fisherman pulled it to shore.

“Thank you, cat,” said the fisherman. “Without you, I never would have succeeded.” The cat, pleased, replied, “You’re welcome. It’s important to help one another.” The fisherman took the fish to the village and shared it with his neighbors. The people were delighted, as such a catch was a rare treat. In gratitude, they offered the cat the best portions of the fish.

From that day on, the fisherman and the cat became friends. Every time the fisherman needed help, the cat came to the river and found a way to attract the fish. And the fisherman always shared his catch generously, reminding everyone that kindness always comes back.

Moral of the story: Cooperation and kindness lead to great success. Even the most different beings can become friends when they help one another.

Discussion Questions:

• Why did the fisherman trust the cat?
• How did the cat help the fisherman catch the fish?
• What does this story teach us about friendship and teamwork?