At the edge of a village lay a little pond. One early morning a kitten named Khuki sat on its bank. The big cats kept pulling shiny fish from the water. Watching them, Khuki licked her lips — her tummy went rumble, rumble! “Ma, I want fish too!” she said.
Mother cat came close. “You want to eat fish? Then learn to catch them yourself. Without a little hard work, no tummy ever gets full, Khuki.” Khuki made a long face. Still, slowly, slowly she crept to the water's edge. She peeped in — silver fish were darting about below.
The moment she spotted a fat fish, Khuki swung her paw — splash! Water flew up and left her soaked through. And the fish? It slipped away in a flash! Empty paws, dripping whiskers. On the bank a frog grinned — “Oh, so it's that easy, is it?”
But Khuki would not give up. One try… another try… again and again her paw came down, again and again the fish slipped past. The sun climbed high overhead and sweat rolled down her fur. Still, she learned — how the fish turned and swam. And she learned to sit dead still, like a stone — slowly… slowly…
Hush! Khuki didn't move a muscle. Her eyes were only on the fish. Slowly, slowly a fat fish swam closer… and closer… snap! Her paw shot out like lightning. This time it did not get away! A silver fish dangled from her mouth. “I got it! I got it!” Khuki leapt up for joy.
With the fish in her mouth, Khuki ran to her mother. The two of them shared it together. Meow! What a treat! “Ma, this is the sweetest fish of all!” said Khuki. Mother smiled — “That's because you caught it yourself, Khuki.”
Evening settled over the pond bank. The fireflies blinked on and off, and a round moon rose in the sky. Snuggled against her mother, Khuki whispered — “Tomorrow I'll catch fish again, Ma.” Mother closed her eyes and smiled. And it's true — what you earn yourself always tastes the sweetest.