On the thorny branches of an eggplant bush, a tiny tailorbird had stitched leaves into a little pouch of a nest. Inside, three chicks blinked up at her — too small to fly. "Don't be afraid, my loves. Mother's here."
In that house lived the cat — big paws, gleaming eyes. She padded up under the bush and licked her lips. "Tender little chicks — I'm invited to a feast today!" The nest shook and rustled. And inside the tailorbird's chest: thump, thump.
But the tailorbird didn't fly away. She hopped down, bowed her head low, and said in her sweetest voice, "Your Majesty! How beautiful you are!" The cat smoothed her whiskers and fluffed up her tail. "Hmm, that's true!" — and off she went.
Day after day the cat came — "Today I'll really eat you!" Day after day the tailorbird bowed low — "Your Majesty, who else is as kind as you?" And meanwhile, little by little, the chicks' wings grew strong. Who's the clever one here?
Evening came down soft. Through the eggplant leaves, the first star blinked awake. The tailorbird quietly ran her beak along the chicks' grown-strong wings. "One more night, my loves," she whispered.
At first light — whoosh! whoosh! whoosh! The three chicks flew up to the tall palm tree. The cat arrived to find the nest empty, just a few feathers left. From the top, the tailorbird laughed down, "O Your Majesty! Look up!"
The cat's tail puffed up like a drum with rage! With a hiss she leapt into the eggplant bush — nothing but thorns, thorns everywhere! "Oww! Ouch! Oof!" — and down she tumbled with a thump.
In the golden afternoon, the tailorbird sat high on the palm with her three chicks. Below, the cat crept home with her head down — and never came near them again. "Ma, weren't you scared?" "Of course I was! And I won anyway."