The Greedy Fox
by Margo Fallis
Frizzy Fox was running through the snow. Huge flakes fell from the clouds, landing on the trees, grass and rocks. He loved leaving his paw prints in a field of fresh snow.
Harry Hare was hopping across a field. In the summer it was filled with wildflowers, but it was winter now and all he could see was snow. A few pieces of yellowish dead grass poked up through the whiteness.
"La la la la la," hummed Madeline. She sang as she walked through the field towards her house. "I hope Mum likes these biscuits and buns that Auntie Peggy made for her," she said, lifting the end of the towel to peek inside.
Harry saw Frizzy running through the snow. He hopped over to him. "Frizzy, do you smell something delicious?"
Frizzy sniffed the air. "Why, it smells like biscuits and buns."
"Are you as hungry as I am? There aren’t many berries or tasty morsels to eat during these cold, wintry days. Where do you think that smell is coming from?" Harry asked.
"La la la la la," hummed Madeline once more.
"Over there," Frizzy said. "It’s a lassie. She is carrying a basket over her arm. I’ll bet it is filled with shortbread, and ginger biscuits, and fluffy fresh-baked buns."
"She’ll not give them to us. She’s taking them to her home…unless we trick her," Harry smiled wickedly.
"Trick her?" Frizzy was curious.
"I have an idea. I’ll go and lie down in the snow, right in the middle of the path. She’ll think I’m hurt, put the basket down, and try to help me. You sneak up behind her, grab the basket and run off. We’ll meet up later, down by the stream," Harry suggested.
"Great idea. You lie down and I’ll sneak the basket. Got it!" Frizzy Fox sneered.
Harry hopped down the path and saw Madeline heading his way. "I’ll lie down right here. Hide in the bush, Frizzy, and get ready."
Madeline hummed, "La la la la la," as she walked down the path. She spotted Harry lying in the snow. "What’s this? It looks like a hare and it’s hurt. Oh my." She put her basket down and picked up the hare. "Poor wee hare. Are you freezing? I’ll wrap you in my coat for a little while and warm you up." She pulled her coat around him and hummed some more. "La la la la la."
The fox crept through the snow, ever so quietly, and picked up the basket when Madeline wasn’t looking. He dashed into the woods with it, grinning and giggling. He lifted up the towel and saw all the delicious biscuits and buns. "I think I’ll eat these by myself, before Harry gets here," Frizzy said. He gobbled down several biscuits.
"Hey! What are you doing eating all the food? You were supposed to wait for me!" Harry shouted angrily.
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"Where’s the lass?" Frizzy asked, trying to change the subject. "I hopped out of her arms when I saw you heading into the woods with the basket. She’s searching everywhere for me and for the basket," Harry chuckled. "I was hungry. I couldn’t wait. Here, have one," Frizzy said, handing the hare a sugary bun. Harry took it, but he was still angry at Frizzy. As he was nibbling his bun, he thought of an idea to get even with Frizzy. "Say, Frizzy. Let’s catch some fish to have with these biscuits and buns," Harry suggested. You’ve got a long tail. Why don’t you stick it in the stream? The fish will see it and think it’s a worm. They’ll bite your tail, softly, of course. All you will have to do is pull your tail out and we’ll eat the fish." "Great idea," Frizzy said. He was still hungry, even though he’d eaten five biscuits and two buns. He walked down to the stream and put his tail in the water. "Just leave it in there for a while," Harry said. Harry waited patiently. He sat on the basket and tapped his paws up and down in the snow. "Pull your tail out now," Harry said. "I’m sure there’s a fish hanging on the end of it." When Frizzy reached around to pull his tail out, much to his horror, he found that the stream had frozen. "Help me, Harry. The water has frozen around my tail and I can’t get it out. There’s no fish, just ice." Harry started to giggle. "I knew that would happen. You shouldn’t have ran off and eaten the biscuits. Now I’m going to take the basket and eat it the rest of it by myself. Cheerio," Harry smiled and ran off with the basket, leaving the fox with his tail frozen in the stream! "Next time don’t be so greedy," Harry called from a distance. The fox could do nothing but sit in the snow, wait for the ice to melt, and think about how he shouldn’t have been so greedy.
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