Mitty’s New Friend
Mitty the kitten lived in a big house. She had many good friends: Bob the bee, Betty the butterfly, and Bitsy the little bird. Mitty loved them very much. She played with them, shared her food, and let them sleep inside her house on cold nights.
One day, while Mitty was relaxing in the garden, she heard a soft purr. She looked around the corner and saw a chubby little kitten who looked just like her.
"Hello! My name is Gidget. I am your new neighbor," the kitten said.
"Yay!" cried Mitty happily. She clapped her paws and jumped around with excitement.
"Stop that. That is not how a polite lady acts," Gidget said strictly. "Watch me." Gidget walked very gracefully and elegantly.
"Wow, you are smart! What else can you teach me?" Mitty asked.
"Oh, I can teach you about numbers and colors," Gidget replied.
Just then, Bitsy the bird flew in. "Let's play, Mitty!" she chirped.
"Meet my new friend, Gidget," Mitty said.
Gidget looked at the bird and asked, "This ugly bird is your friend?"
Mitty was shocked. Bitsy’s feelings were hurt, so she flew away.
Later, Bob the bee and Betty the butterfly flew in. "Hey Mitty, let’s eat lunch!" they said.
"Hi Betty, hi Bob! Meet Gidget," Mitty said.
"Hi Gidget!" Betty said kindly.
But Gidget did not say hello. Instead, she asked Mitty, "Are you really going to share your food with this big, old butterfly?"
Mitty was very upset. "That is enough!" she said firmly. "You cannot speak to my friends like that!" Mitty walked away to find her old friends.
Meanwhile, Bob, Bitsy, and Betty were having a meeting. "It looks like Mitty forgot about us because of her new friend," they said sadly.
Suddenly, Mitty arrived. "I am so sorry, my friends," she said.
"Your new friend is very mean!" Bitsy said.
"She called me old and big!" Betty cried.
"Betty, you are the most beautiful butterfly in the world! And Bitsy, you are not ugly at all," Mitty said gently. "Gidget is rude, and I will not talk to her anymore." Mitty wiped away her friends' tears, and they were all happy to be together again.
A little later, Gidget walked up to them. Everyone looked at her carefully.
"Friends, I am sorry," Gidget said.
"We don't need a rude friend like you," Mitty replied.
"Oh Mitty, I thought I was so smart," Gidget explained sadly. "But coming here made me realize that knowing numbers, colors, and manners is not enough. You also need to have a good heart and be a kind friend. Mitty, you might not know everything, but you are a wonderful kitten. Watching you and your friends taught me a big lesson. Please forgive me."
Mitty and her friends looked at each other. They could see that Gidget was truly sorry.
"Okay, we forgive you, but on one condition," Mitty said seriously. Everyone waited quietly. "You have to teach us all about colors and numbers!" Mitty said with a big smile.
All the animals laughed out loud. From that day on, Gidget became a kind friend and a wonderful neighbor.
The Lesson: Being smart or having good manners means nothing if you aren't kind to others. A good heart is the most important thing.