Hello! Welcome to Stories Podcast. I'm your host, Amanda Weldon. Today's story is called

Cats and Rats, an adaptation of an Italian folktale written for you by Daniel Hines.

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Thanks. Enjoy the episode. Cats and Rats

Once upon a time, there was a traveling merchant called a peddler named Mario.

He lived in a bustling city and traveled all over the country, bringing rare and useful things to

all corners. His pack was always loaded, his mule, strong and patient, and it seemed there was nothing

he didn't possess. A clapper for an old church bell? Of course. A green wax crayon for a picture of a forest. What shade of green would you like?

A chess set carved of marble and ebony? Well, would you look at that? Bits and bobs and nicks and knacks,

Mario had it all, and somehow more. He made plenty of money and was very generous with it,

always throwing in free candies for the kids

or food for a hungry family. Mario was well loved in his city and on the roads, but there was one

who didn't care for Mario, not one bit. Her name was Bianca, and she was a rival peddler. Where Mario was generous and affable, which means friendly,

Bianca was greedy and ornery, which means unfriendly.

Mario was always finding the perfect thing for the perfect people,

and Bianca had an idea how to derail that.

Mario, my friend, she said one day when they were both home in the city between trips.

I've gotten word of a little town up in the hills that needs a peddler.

They've found a rich vein of gold but have no one to trade it with.

Wonderful, said Mario, who liked Bianca even if she didn't like him.

...