Hungarian Folk Tales: King Kitty
Once upon a time there lived a poor old woman and she had a cat.
The cat was so greedy that he poked his nose into every jug and jar.
Then the day came when the old woman could not stand the cat's greedy ways any longer, and she said to him:
Get out of my house, you may go wherever you like, but never darken my door again!
So the greedy cat was forced to go out into the wide world.
The cat walked until he came to a bridge where he sat and gave a sad miaow.
And as he said he caught sight of a fox sitting nearby.
The cat proud slowly around the fox and rustled the bushes.
The fox was terrified as he had never seen a cat before,
and the cat was terrified because he had never seen a fox before.
So they both just stood there shaking.
Which of us should be in charge?
What? You don't know who I am?
I'm King Kitty. All the animals are afraid of me.
Oh, I am ashamed to say that I've never heard of you before.
The fox confessed and immediately invited King Kitty to his humble home,
for some twists the pop of chicken, duck, goose and anything else he could find.
Please eat more, your majesty, make yourself at home!
When the feast was finished the fox prepared an exceptionally soft bed for King Kitty,
who ordered complete silence, while he had his royal nap.
Get away from here!
Don't you know that King Kitty is sleeping in my house?
If you wake him now he's sure to have you executed!
Where are you running to? Are the hounds on your tail?
Don't ask me, bear!
I was passing fox's house and he told me to run away because King Kitty sleeps with him,
and if I woke him he'd have me executed.
Hm... – the bear pondered.
I have traveled to many lands but I have never heard of such a feline figure.
I shall pay a visit to the fox and see this King Kitty for myself!
Oh bear, please don't go there, because if you wake King Kitty he'll have you executed and me along with you!
This frighten the bear who ran and ran until he reached the rabbit.
Oh my, what will happen if King Kitty wakes up and walks out into the forest?
I've got a splendid idea, let's all invite King Kitty to a banquet!
If you trust me I'll go to the fox and invite his majesty.
All right. I'll go to see if King Kitty is awake and I'll inform him of your wish.
Your majesty, a crow has arrived sent by the animals of the forest to invite you to a royal banquet.
King Kitty brushed his white whiskers and said:
Very well, you may go and tell the crow I will attend.
As evening came, King Kitty began to make himself ready...
he waxed his whiskers and left in the company of his host the fox.
The crow met them to show the way.
But the crow was too scared to fly down to the ground and so instead he flew from tree to tree and crawed:
This way please! This way please!
The other animal soon sighted King Kitty arriving with the fox.
Oh, dear me! Here comes King Kitty, he'll skewer me on his spiky whiskers!
But all of a sudden the animals took fright and fled to all four corners of the forest.
And if these foolish animals had not run away, my story would have lasted longer still.