The Parrot, the Mouse, and the Rabbit: A Tale of Friendship and Deception

The Parrot, the Mouse, and the Rabbit

BY:Khan

Once upon a time, in a quiet forest near a small village, lived three very close friends — a parrot, a mouse, and a rabbit. They shared a tiny but cozy little house under a big banyan tree. All three of them lived happily together, helping one another with love and care.

The rabbit was the homemaker of the group. Every morning, he would sweep the floor, wash the utensils, and prepare delicious meals for everyone. The mouse, small but smart, took care of the shopping. He would go to the nearby market to bring grains, vegetables, and water for the house. And the parrot, with his colorful feathers and strong wings, had the most difficult job — he would fly deep into the forest to collect bundles of wood. Then, he would take them to the market and sell them to earn a few coins. With that money, the three friends managed all their daily needs.

They were poor, but they were happy. Their friendship was their greatest treasure. They laughed together, ate together, and slept peacefully knowing that they could rely on one another.

But happiness, as it often happens, made someone else jealous.

In the neighboring forest lived a clever and cunning fox. She had been watching the three friends for a long time. Their joy and togetherness made her angry. “How can they be so happy without fighting?” she thought bitterly. “I must find a way to break their friendship.”

One afternoon, when the parrot was returning from the forest with a bundle of wood on his back, the fox stopped him. She smiled slyly and said,
“Good day, dear Parrot! You must be very tired. You work so hard every day. Tell me, how are your friends doing?”

The parrot, kind and innocent as always, chirped cheerfully, “We are doing great! My friends and I live happily together. We work, eat, and rest together.”

The fox tilted her head and said in a soft but poisonous tone, “Oh really? I’ve been watching you for a long time. You’re the only one who works hard, my poor friend. All day long, you fly through the forest, collect heavy bundles of wood, and go to the market to sell them. Meanwhile, your friends just sit at home, relaxing and chatting.”

The parrot frowned. “No, no! That’s not true,” he said quickly. “The mouse and the rabbit also work very hard. We all do our share.”

The fox laughed mockingly. “Oh come on, Parrot! The mouse only runs a few steps to the market and brings back a handful of grains. The rabbit just cooks a little food and lies around all day. But you— you work from sunrise to sunset. You’re the one keeping that house running. They enjoy the fruits of your labor while you tire yourself out every day. Think about it, my friend — are they really fair to you?”

The parrot tried to ignore her words, but they had already planted a seed of doubt in his mind.
The fox, seeing his silence, smirked and walked away, saying, “Well, you know best, Parrot. But sometimes, friends take advantage of good hearts like yours.”

That evening, as the parrot flew home, he couldn’t stop thinking about what the fox had said. “Maybe she’s right,” he murmured. “I do work harder than both of them. Maybe my friends are lazy after all.”

When he reached home, he didn’t greet his friends as usual. The mouse and the rabbit were waiting for him with warm food and smiles. But the parrot looked upset.
“What happened, Parrot?” the rabbit asked.
“I’m tired,” the parrot said coldly. “Every day, I bring wood from the forest while you two just stay home. From tomorrow, we’ll switch tasks. I’ll cook at home, and one of you will go collect the wood.”

The mouse and rabbit were shocked. “But, Parrot,” said the mouse gently, “you fly fast and strong. The forest is far and full of danger. It’s not safe for us.”
But the parrot wouldn’t listen. “No! I’ve made up my mind,” he said stubbornly.

Finally, the mouse agreed. “Alright, my friend. Tomorrow, I’ll bring the wood. You can rest.”

The next morning, the mouse set out early for the forest, carrying a small basket. The parrot stayed home and tried to cook, but his heart was uneasy. As the sun set, the mouse still hadn’t returned. The rabbit grew worried. “It’s getting dark,” he said anxiously. “Something must have happened!”

The parrot said, “You stay here. I’ll go look for him.”
He flew swiftly toward the forest. After a long search, he found the mouse’s basket near a tree — but no sign of his dear friend. Then he saw paw prints on the ground and some fur scattered near the bushes. His heart sank.
A wild cat had attacked and killed the mouse.

When the parrot returned home, his eyes were filled with tears. “The cat… she killed him,” he whispered. The rabbit’s heart broke, and both of them wept for their lost friend.

The next morning, the parrot confessed everything to the rabbit. “It was the fox,” he cried. “She tricked me into thinking you both were lazy. I listened to her lies, and because of that, our friend is gone. I’ll never forgive myself.”

The rabbit hugged him gently. “It’s not your fault, my friend. Evil words can poison even the purest hearts. What matters is that you’ve realized your mistake.”

From that day onward, the parrot and the rabbit worked side by side and never let anyone come between them again. The fox tried to approach them a few more times, but they ignored her completely.

And so, they lived peacefully — a little sad for their lost friend, but wiser and stronger in their bond.

Moral:
Never let outsiders sow doubt among true friends. Jealous and cunning people can destroy even the strongest relationships — if you let them.