One Smart Cat
Long
ago, Jaguar had a problem. He had strong muscles, sharp
claws, and sharp teeth, but he didn’t know how to
use them well. He was a poor hunter, so he was always hungry.
Finally Jaguar asked Cat for help. He had noticed that although Cat was smaller than Jaguar, he always had plenty to eat. “Please, Cat,” he begged. “Teach me some of your tricks. Then I will be a skillful hunter like you.”
Cat
thought this over, then replied, “Yes, Jaguar, I will
help you. But you must be prepared to practice hard every
day.” Jaguar agreed.
The hunting lessons began. One by one, Cat taught Jaguar
his tricks. Jaguar learned to creep up silently behind his
prey.
He
learned to keep his teeth and claws sharp as knives.
He learned to hide, still as moss, on a tree branch.
Finally, Jaguar learned to jump.
For
many days Cat and Jaguar practiced jumping. Cat would jump
forward, then Jaguar would jump forward. Cat would jump
to the side, then Jaguar would jump to the side. Finally
Jaguar was as good a jumper as Cat.
Then
Cat said to Jaguar, “You have learned well. Our lessons
are over.”
“Aha!”
thought Jaguar. “I no longer need Cat. I shall eat
him, and no one will ever know that this little animal had
to teach me how to hunt.”
As
quick as lightning, Jaguar leaped forward, thinking to land
on Cat. But just as quickly, Cat jumped backward, and Jaguar
landed flat on his face.
Jaguar let out a yowl. “You never taught me how to
jump backward!” he cried.
Cat laughed. “If I had, I wouldn’t be alive right now. I saved this one trick for myself!”
Jaguar is still a good hunter, but to this day he has never learned to jump backward.
