A dog and a cat were best of friends, while they lived in an old shelter with an old witch lady. Every summer she would invite her friends to cook and eat one of her pets. She breaded cats and dogs in large number, and she gave names to each of them.
One of the dog's name is Bello, while one of the cat's name is Reuben. Reuben and Bello were the oldest animals in the shelter and were also best friends.
When the time for summer came, Bello and Reuben wandered which of cat and dog, the old witch and her friends would decide to cook and eat. So the Bello called all the other dogs to gather to himself, while Reuben called all the other cats to gather to himself. They were to draw lots!
As was the tradition among the animals, the oldest cat and the oldest dog were usually exempted from the lot casting.
First, it was the turn of the cats to draw lots and Reuben, was standing afar off from the others, to watch whose feet and paws the thrown up pointed-stick would fall to.
Reuben threw it up and it fell on the ground, pointing at his paws! He quickly picked it up and threw it again, and still, it fell on the ground, pointing at his own feet. This was unexpected and the other cats began to murmur. Still, for the third time, Reuben picked up the stick, gave it to another cat to throw it up, and once again, it fell on the ground and pointed at Reuben's paws. Will he accept his fate?
Well, he quickly turned around and paced with such great speed, to witness the turn of the dogs.
"Had the old witch decided to eat the two oldest guys in her shelter?" he wandered
When he was a meter close to the dogs, he heard loud sobbing. He slowed his pace, walking carefully, almost like sneaking. He got to the scene and discovered that the lots had fallen on Bello!
All the other dogs were wailed for Bello, because they loved him so much. He is very kindhearted. Some of the dogs wished they could switch positions and die in his stead. He however, urged them to quite such thoughts, as he was prepared to face death.
"I have lived long enough, it's time for me to join my ancestors. Don't weep, cheer up and prepare for me a sweet goodbye poem"
Reuben couldn't believe the words coming out from Bello's mouth. He leaned forward to ear shot with Bello.
"Do you really want to die?" Reuben asked
"Yes. Death comes to us all. What about your side, who did the lot fell on"
"Me"
"What?" Bello shouted, with eyes wide open
"But me….. I won't die" Reuben said
"So what will you do? It's our fate, we must accept it. We have lived long enough, now it's time to give way for the younger ones to live" Bello said
"No… not me, I won't die. I know what to do, just watch" Reuben boasted. They continued chatting until, night fall and all the animals in the shelter went to bed. Reuben stayed awake, wandering what to do to escape death. Then suddenly, he came up with an idea.
He was the only black cat among the other cats, and that gave him an idea. He went to an old cupboard and brought out a container, containing black paint. He planned to use the paint to paint the only white cat in the shelter. He did it successfully, while the poor kitty was asleep. He went back to the cupboard and brought out another container, containing white paint, and painted himself with it.
Morning came and the old witch with her friends were seated round a wide table. The oldest cat and the oldest dog, were the ones that usually announced the result of the lots to the witch.
When the original white cat woke up, he discovered his body color had changed. He meowed aloud for help, but none of the other dogs believed him.
"He is lying" one said
"His turn had come to die, but he wants to fain excuses" said another
"He must die. He is very selfish" another said. Reuben walked in at that moment, now colored white and began mimicking the innocent cat.
"I am not Reuben, I don't want to die….. It's your turn to die and you must die. Foolish cat"
"I swear, it's not me, I am not Reuben" the poor cat pleaded, but the others just ignored him and walked in line to the meeting of the witch and her friends.
The dogs were already present and old Bello was among them.
"Bello my good dog, please point out who the lots fell to, so we can cook and eat him"
"It's me, mama the lot fell pointing me"
"What? No way!" the old witch yelled. She asked the other dogs and them all responded "Yes". She became so sober because, she loved the dog so much. She then turned to the cats and the black painted cat was beside her
"My dear Reuben, please tell me that the lots did not choose you too"
"Mama, it's not me. I am not Reuben. The lot choose Reuben, but I'm not Reuben" he explained with teary eyes.
"No, he is Reuben and he must die". The other cats including the real Reuben shouted. The old witch turned to the black painted cat "I know it's hard to accept, and I don't wish to cook and eat you" she said and paused for a while, then she continued;
"Bello and Reuben are the oldest animals living in my shelter. I can't lose any of them" just then, the Real Reuben sharply interrupted and shouted
"No, that would be cheating! Reuben must die"
"Are you the judge here?" the old lady fired back at the real Reuben, unknowing to her.
"Since you are so eager to have my sweet Reuben killed, you will die in his place". The witch declared.
"Reuben and Bello are my closest pets in this shelter, therefore, as the judge and the owner of this shelter, I order that the white colored cat should be sliced in his throat, arms and legs cut off and placed in a big pot". She declared and immediately, all the other cats and dogs came upon the real Reuben, (unknowingly to them) to execute the judgment of the witch.
The real Reuben, now faced with brutal death, began to beg for his life "I am the real Reuben, spare my life please"
"Shut up, there cannot be two Reuben in this shelter". One of the cats taunted.
So the real Reuben was killed and cooked. The witch and her friends ate his meat and were in merriment.
THE END