[EN] Miri, the Honest Cat of the Forest Village

In a deep, lush forest village, there lived a cat named Miri, who had a gentle heart.
Miri was kinder than anyone else, but sometimes, her heart would waver.

One day, the village market was filled with delicious fish pies.

"Wow... I really want to eat one of those pies..."
Miri whispered, swallowing her saliva.

At that moment, she noticed that Aunt Mimi, the pie shop owner, had stepped away for a while.

"Just a little... if I take just a little, it'll be okay, right?"
Miri tiptoed over and stealthily took a small pie.

On her way home, her heart felt heavy.

"Miri, where are you coming from?"
Her forest friend, Toto the squirrel, approached and asked.

Miri quickly hid the pie behind her back and answered,
"Just... taking a walk."

That night, Miri couldn't bring herself to eat even a single bite of the pie.

"Why did I do that..."
Her small voice echoed through her room.

The next day, a commotion broke out in the market.

"A pie went missing yesterday!"
Aunt Mimi said with a worried look.

The nearby friends started murmuring,
"There’s a thief in the forest!"
"Who could it be?"

Miri's heart pounded loudly. Just then, Toto came over and quietly whispered,
"Miri, was it... you?"

With tears welling up in h

er eyes, Miri nodded.

"I'm sorry... I'm really sorry..."

Miri came forward in front of everyone and confessed,
"It was me who stole the pie. I just... wanted it so badly..."

The forest fell into silence.
After a long pause, Aunt Mimi gently said,

"Miri, thank you for telling the truth. But you must take responsibility for what you did."

Miri nodded.

"Would you help clean the market for the day?"
"Yes... I'm really sorry."

Miri spent the whole day sweeping the market and moving boxes.

It was hard work, but her heart gradually felt lighter.

When she finished, Aunt Mimi handed her a small bundle.

"This is a gift for your honesty."

When Miri opened it, she found a slice of pie even bigger than the one she had taken.

But Miri shook her head.

"Thank you, Auntie... but I can't accept it."

And quietly, she left the market.

From that day on, no matter how small the temptation, Miri never told a lie again.