Xenophobia

Bernie the cat was a curious feline who loved to explore new places. One day, he stumbled upon a group of cats who were hissing and spitting at a strange-looking cat who had just moved into the neighborhood. Bernie approached the group, curious about what was happening. As soon as Bernie got close, one of the cats turned to him and hissed, "Why don't you go back to where you came from, you filthy xenophobe!" Bernie was taken aback. He had never heard the word "xenophobe" before. He didn't understand why the cats were being so mean to the new cat. Bernie decided to investigate further and asked one of the cats what was going on. The cat explained that the new cat was from a different country and spoke a different language, which made some of the other cats uncomfortable. Bernie couldn't believe it. He didn't understand why anyone would be afraid of something new and different. Determined to help the new cat feel welcome, Bernie spent the rest of the day playing with him and showing him around the neighborhood. By the end of the day, the other cats had begun to warm up to the new cat as well. Bernie realized that sometimes, all it takes is a little kindness and understanding to overcome xenophobia and make new friends.