Okay, so today I figured I’d dig into this old fairy tale called “Cat and Mouse in Partnership”. You know the one? Cat finds a pot of fat and convinces Mouse to hide it with him for later. Sounds good, right? Partners sharing resources. Yeah, well.
How I Even Got Here
Started simple. Cleaning out my grandma’s attic last week – dusty boxes everywhere. Found this crusty old book of Grimm tales buried under some moth-eaten sweaters. Flipped it open randomly, landed right on this cat and mouse story. Thought, “Huh, why not give it a quick read?”
Reading the Thing – Step by Step
Sat down on a dusty floor right there in the attic. First bit seemed straightforward. Cat says, “Hey Mouse, let’s stash this awesome pot of fat in the church attic. Winter’s coming, good backup plan.” Mouse agrees. “Trust me,” says the Cat. Big first mistake, trusting a cat.
Phase one: Cat sneaks off alone first time. Says he’s gotta be a godfather for his cousin’s new kitten. Mouse says “Okay.” Cat actually just goes and gobbles up the top layer of fat. Comes back licking his lips, tells Mouse it was a cute kid named “Top-off”. Mouse swallows it.
Phase two: Cat’s hungry again. Pulls the same line – gotta be godfather again. Mouse nods. This time? Cat eats half the darn pot. Returns super full, says the kid’s name was “Half-gone.” Mouse? Just blinks. Suspicion meter at zero.
Phase three: Cold hits hard. Mouse remembers their stash. “Let’s go get our fat!” Cat grumbles, but goes along. They climb up, see the pot. Empty. Cat wasted the whole thing on his solo trips. Mouse freaks out. Cat just shrugs – “Yeah, and by the way, I ate those ‘godchildren’ names too. Top-off. Half-gone. And today? All-gone. Gotta keep my strength up.” Then… chomp. Mouse is lunch.
The “Oh Damn” Moment
Sat there holding the book. Dust motes floating. Stomach dropped. That poor Mouse? Totally trusting, totally blind. Cat? Smooth, selfish liar playing a long con. Mouse focused on the partnership idea, ignored every blazing red flag. Cat? Focused purely on his belly.
Big lessons kicked in:
- First: Don’t trust charm over character. Cat talked real sweet about family godchildren. Mouse bought the act.
- Second: Watch actions, not words. Cat vanished repeatedly and came back fatter. Mouse ignored the evidence.
- Third: Partners need equal power or checks. Mouse had zero power, zero oversight on the stash. Cat controlled everything.
Why This Stick With Me
Reminded me of this “collab” last year. Buddy wanted to split profits on this “sure-thing” side hustle. Promised fifty-fifty. Guess what? Ended up like Mouse – chasing after promised gains I never saw. Guy kept saying deals were “pending,” needed more time. Found out later he pocketed every dime. My trust? Eaten like Mouse.
Fairy tales aren’t just for kids. This one? Packs a punch. Moral screamed at me: Blind trust in a sketchy partner leaves you hungry. Or worse. Demand transparency. Watch their moves. Call out the half-gone moments. Because trust without eyes wide open? Recipe for being somebody’s dinner.
