The Story#
A long, long time ago, the Jade Emperor wanted to choose twelve animals as zodiac signs.
He announced: “Tomorrow morning, whoever arrives at the Heavenly Court first will be number one!”
The Rat and the Cat were good friends. They agreed to go together.
The Rat said: “Brother Cat, I can’t wake up. You wake me up.”
The Cat said: “Okay, I’ll definitely wake you up.”
The next day, the Cat overslept. The Rat went alone.
When the Rat reached the river, the water was too wide to cross.
Just then, the Ox came along.
The Rat said: “Uncle Ox, please carry me across the river!”
The Ox agreed. The Rat sat on the Ox’s back and crossed the river.
When they were almost at the Heavenly Court, the Rat jumped off the Ox’s back and rushed in first!
“I’m number one!” the Rat cheered happily.
The Ox was second, the Tiger third, the Rabbit fourth…
The Dragon flew in, fifth; The Snake slithered in, sixth; The Horse ran in, seventh; The Sheep walked in, eighth; The Monkey hopped in, ninth; The Chicken flapped in, tenth; The Dog ran in, eleventh; The Pig waddled in, twelfth.
The Cat woke up and ran as fast as he could, but only came in thirteenth. He wasn’t chosen.
From then on, the Cat chases the Rat whenever he sees it, because the Rat didn’t wake him up!
Little friends, what’s your zodiac animal?
What the Story Teaches Us#
The story of the twelve zodiac animals teaches us to keep our promises. The Rat didn’t wake the Cat, so cats and rats became enemies.