Bedtime Story | The Old Woman and the Cat

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The Old Woman and the Cat

Once upon a time, there was an old woman who lived all alone in a big house on a hill. The house was cozy, the garden was grand, but she was lonely, understand?

A whimsical illustration of an old woman in a cozy, big house on a hill with a grand garden.

Her name was Sage, as wise as can be, but she was too old to climb up the tree to fetch down the apples, red as can be. So wise old Sage thought, 'I'll get some company!'

The old woman named An old wise woman with grey hair, glasses, a warm smile, and a garden dress, living in a cozy big house is thinking under an apple tree full of red apples.

As days went by, she noticed, oh dear! A family of mice had made their home near. 'Oh me! Oh my! I need some help,' Sage sighed. 'I'll adopt a cat to help me sleep tight!'

An old wise woman with grey hair, glasses, a warm smile, and a garden dress, living in a cozy big house looking worried, observing mice running around her house.

Along came Whiskers, a cat so sleek, with fur like silk and a playful streak. 'I'll catch those mice!' Whiskers did declare, and off he went, lurking here and there.

A sleek cat named A sleek cat with fur like silk, playful demeanor, agile, and curious entering An old wise woman with grey hair, glasses, a warm smile, and a garden dress, living in a cozy big house's home, looking confident.

Whiskers was quick, a flash of fur, and soon enough, the mice did purr, 'Let's leave this place, not safe for sure,' and they scampered out through the kitchen door.

A sleek cat with fur like silk, playful demeanor, agile, and curious chasing mice that look scared and are running away.

Sage clapped her hands, 'Hooray! No more mice to ruin my day.' She hugged Whiskers and gave a cheer, 'I'll bake you pie, my dear!'

An old wise woman with grey hair, glasses, a warm smile, and a garden dress, living in a cozy big house clapping and hugging A sleek cat with fur like silk, playful demeanor, agile, and curious, looking joyful.

But Whiskers grew bored with no mice to chase, so he lounged by the window to gaze into space. Days turned to weeks, and Whiskers, oh no! Decided it was time to go.

A sleek cat with fur like silk, playful demeanor, agile, and curious looking bored, lounging by the window as time passes.

Whiskers walked out with a 'Meow-meow!' 'It's time for new adventures now.' Sage was sad but let him be, 'Farewell, my friend, roam wild and free.'

A sleek cat with fur like silk, playful demeanor, agile, and curious walking away from the house, with An old wise woman with grey hair, glasses, a warm smile, and a garden dress, living in a cozy big house waving goodbye.

The mice came back as Whiskers left. Sage noticed quickly and felt quite bereft. 'Oh no! The mice are here to stay. What can I do to keep them away?'

The mice sneaking back into the house as An old wise woman with grey hair, glasses, a warm smile, and a garden dress, living in a cozy big house looks disappointed.

Sage thought and thought, and then she knew, 'I need Whiskers to come back, it's true!' She went to town and made a plea, 'Return, dear Whiskers, back to me!'

An old wise woman with grey hair, glasses, a warm smile, and a garden dress, living in a cozy big house standing in town asking for A sleek cat with fur like silk, playful demeanor, agile, and curious' return.

One sunny day, what's that near? A familiar 'Meow' she did hear! Whiskers returned, mice ran away, and in Sage's house, the cat did stay.

A sleek cat with fur like silk, playful demeanor, agile, and curious returning to the house, welcomed by An old wise woman with grey hair, glasses, a warm smile, and a garden dress, living in a cozy big house, while the mice run away again.

And so they lived, oh so content. Sage and Whiskers, time well spent. A lesson learned, deep and true: Friendship's magic returns back to you.

An old wise woman with grey hair, glasses, a warm smile, and a garden dress, living in a cozy big house and A sleek cat with fur like silk, playful demeanor, agile, and curious happily sitting together in the cozy house.

Reflection Questions

Why do you think Sage decided to adopt Whiskers?
How do you think Sage felt when Whiskers left? How did she feel when he returned?
What lesson did Sage learn about friendship and asking for help?

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