In a small, cozy village where the houses had thatched roofs and the gardens smelled of lavender, there lived two very special friends: Ribby, an orange tabby cat with an immaculate apron, and Duchess, an elegant little dog with a pearl necklace. One day, Ribby sent a perfumed letter: "Dear Duchess, I invite you to tea this Saturday. I have prepared something very special: a pie!" Duchess read the letter with a smile... that gradually turned into a grimace of worry. "A pie? Oh, dear... I know Ribby. It's surely a mouse pie!" Duchess looked at herself in the mirror, adjusting her pearl necklace. "I cannot tell her I don't like it. That would be terribly rude. But... a mouse pie?" She came up with a plan. "I know! I'll make my own ham pie and, while Ribby isn't looking, I'll swap it for hers. Problem solved!"
Duchess prepared a beautiful ham pie with a perfect golden crust. She put it in a basket and walked to Ribby's little cottage. When Ribby opened the door, the kitchen smelled wonderfully of butter and spices. "Dear Duchess, come in, come in! The pie is nearly ready in the oven." Ribby turned around to put the kettle on, and Duchess saw her chance. With her heart beating wildly, she opened the oven stealthily. But what she found inside left her frozen. "But this... this is a veal and ham pie! It's not mouse at all!" Duchess was so surprised she didn't know what to do with her own pie. She looked right, she looked left, and in a moment of absolute panic, she hid it under the cushion of the nearest chair.
Ribby served tea with great ceremony. Porcelain cups, lace napkins, and in the center of the table, the magnificent steaming pie. "Dear Duchess, I hope you enjoy this pie. I made it with a special recipe." Duchess, now completely relaxed knowing there was no mouse whatsoever, ate with great enthusiasm. "It's absolutely delicious, Ribby! It's the best pie I've ever tasted!" Ribby smiled proudly, pouring more tea. "I'm so glad you like it. Would you like another slice?" When they had nearly finished, Duchess noticed something strange. There was a suspicious lump under her chair cushion. Her own pie. She began to feel panic. "What if Ribby discovers it? She'll think I'm terribly rude!" Duchess started fidgeting in her chair, pressing down on the cushion.
Suddenly, Duchess put on a dramatic expression. "Oh, Ribby! I think I've swallowed a patty-pan! I feel something very hard in my stomach!" Ribby was terribly alarmed. "Good gracious! I'll call the doctor immediately!" Ribby rushed to fetch Doctor Maggoty, a very distinguished magpie with a top hat and monocle. Doctor Maggoty arrived with his bag and an air of great importance. "Let me see, let me see. A patty-pan, you say? This is very serious. I shall have to examine her." While the doctor examined Duchess with great theatricality, Ribby went to the kitchen to prepare a medicinal infusion. Duchess seized the moment. "Doctor, I haven't swallowed anything. My pie is under that cushion. Please help me get it out of here without Ribby finding out!" Doctor Maggoty looked at the cushion, looked at Duchess, and with the professionalism of an experienced spy, hid the pie in his bag.
Doctor Maggoty announced solemnly: "Dear Ribby, the patient will recover completely. She just needs a bit of fresh air." Once outside, Duchess breathed with relief. Doctor Maggoty returned her pie with a mischievous smile. "Next time, dear Duchess, simply tell your friend what you like and what you don't." Duchess walked home with the ham pie under her arm, laughing at herself. "What tremendous nonsense! All this fuss just because I didn't want to seem rude." The next day, Duchess went to visit Ribby with a bouquet of flowers. "Dear Ribby, your pie was absolutely delicious. And I must confess something: I like ham and veal pies, but not mouse pies." Ribby laughed. "But Duchess! I would never make a mouse pie for a guest! That would be terribly rude." The two friends laughed together, and from that day on, they always asked each other beforehand what they wanted to eat. Because the best recipe for friendship is honesty... with a pinch of humor.
