Back in the days, in a lush green forest, there lived two best friends: Njangu the clever cat and Mbeba the mischievous rat. They did everything together, from chasing butterflies to sharing their secrets under the shade of the tallest tree.
One sunny day, as they lazed around in the warmth of the sun, they had an idea. “Let’s make our cow ghee extra special!” exclaimed Njangu. Mbeba’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “How?” he asked eagerly.
Njangu grinned. “We’ll keep it safe at the top of the tree until it becomes mature and delicious!”
So, they fetched their calabashes of cow ghee and carefully climbed up the tall tree, placing their precious treasures on a sturdy branch.
Days turned into weeks, and the friends waited patiently for their ghee to mature. One morning, Mbeba bounced over to Njangu with a twinkle in his eye. “Njangu, guess what? I’ve been invited to a grand ceremony far away!”
Njangu’s whiskers twitched with curiosity. “Wow! That sounds exciting, Mbeba. Enjoy yourself and tell me all about it when you return.”
With a cheerful wave, Mbeba scampered off, leaving Njangu behind. Little did Njangu know, Mbeba’s invitation was nothing but a ruse!
While Njangu waited for his friend to return, Mbeba sneaked back to the tree. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he devoured all the ghee, leaving nothing but an empty calabash behind.
When evening fell, Mbeba returned home, his belly full and his heart content. But to his surprise, he found Njangu packing his belongings. “Welcome back, Mbeba!” Njangu greeted him. “How was the ceremony?”
Mbeba blinked in confusion. “Um, it was… uh, fantastic! We ate delicious food and danced all night long. The groom’s name was… uh… Ngatandikire!”
The next day, it was Mbeba’s turn to go on a journey. “I’m off to find something very important,” he told Njangu.
“Where are you going?” Njangu asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.
Mbeba shrugged. “I’ll let you know when I find it!”
As soon as Mbeba was out of sight, Njangu sensed something fishy. He followed his friend to the tree and discovered the truth. The ghee was gone!
When Mbeba returned, Njangu couldn’t contain his disappointment. “You found what you were looking for, didn’t you? You found our ghee and ate it all!”
Mbeba’s guilty expression said it all. He hung his head in shame, knowing he had betrayed his friend’s trust.
From that day on, Njangu vowed never to trust Mbeba again. And though they remained neighbors in the forest, their friendship was never the same. Whenever Njangu saw Mbeba, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness and betrayal.
And so, the tale of Njangu the cat and Mbeba the rat serves as a timeless reminder that honesty and trust are the pillars of true friendship.
