One sunny morning, a little mouse named Pip decided it was time for an adventure. He had never been outside his cozy mouse hole before, and the big world seemed very exciting.

As Pip tiptoed into the farmyard, he saw a creature strutting proudly. It had a bright red, floppy thing on its head and a sharp, pointy thing on its face. It flapped its big, feathery arms and then it let out a HUGE, LOUD sound: "COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!"
Pip was so scared! He thought, "Oh no, what a terrifying monster!" He scampered away as fast as his little legs could carry him, his whiskers twitching with fear.

A little while later, hiding behind a flowerpot, Pip saw another creature. This one was very different. It moved quietly, almost like a soft shadow. It had smooth, silky fur, and its eyes were big and seemed gentle. It made a soft, rumbling sound, "Purrrr, purrrr."
Pip thought, "Wow, this one looks so kind and friendly! I wish I could play with it."

Pip hurried back to his mama, his heart still thumping a little from the first creature, but excited about the second.
"Mama, Mama!" he squeaked. "I saw two amazing creatures today!"
He told her all about the loud, feathery creature with the red hat and the pointy nose that shouted. "It was so scary, Mama!"
Then he described the soft, quiet creature with the gentle eyes and the sweet purring song. "That one was so lovely, Mama! I think it would be a wonderful friend."

Mama Mouse listened carefully. Then she smiled a little sadly.
"My dear Pip," she said, "the creature you thought was scary, the one with the loud voice and feathery arms, that was a Rooster. He might look and sound a bit alarming, but he wouldn't hurt a little mouse like you. He mostly eats seeds and bugs."
"But the other one," Mama Mouse's voice grew serious, "the one that seemed so soft and gentle, with the purring song? That was a Cat. And cats, my dear, are very, very dangerous for mice. Her soft paws hide sharp claws, and her gentle look is just a trick to catch us."

Pip's eyes grew wide. He couldn't believe it! The loud one was safe, and the quiet, pretty one was dangerous?
"Exactly," said Mama Mouse. "Things are not always what they seem, my little one. It's important to learn who you should be careful of, no matter how they look or sound."
Pip nodded. He had learned a very important lesson that day, and he knew he would be much more careful on his next adventure.

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