Sitting downwind from a nearby farm, Rusty the fox could smell chickens. His stomach started to rumble. "Time to get myself some lunch", thought Rusty, so he straightened his bow tie, wiped a speck from his shoe and headed for the farm.
But did he sneak up to that farm like a fox should? Did he creep and prowl cunningly under the cover of bushes and shrubs? Did he slip ever so quietly under the fence of the chicken coop, and swipe an unsuspecting hen silently off her eggs without anyone knowing he was there?
Did he heck!! He just pranced up to the coop, as bold as brass, cleared his throat loadly, and rapped on the gate.
Mable the chicken popped out her head.
"Good afternoon chicken. My name is Rusty the fox, I am very hungry and I wish to eat you for my lunch. Please spare me any trouble and come with me please."
"I'll just get my coat", replied Mable...... "Hold on a minute! You're a fox. What are you doing? You're supposed to creep in without sound and snatch me away slyly. This isn't right!"
"I beg your pardon?" said Rusty. "I'm asking you nicely. I'm ravenous, you look delicious and I wish to eat you. Now kindly follow me and try not to waste any more time."
"BA..BA...BACK OFF FOX!" yelled Mable. "You do this properly or not at all, do you hear? I am a chicken and you just treat me like one! Creep up on me slyly, sneak into my coop and whisk me away in a flurry of flying feathers, like I deserve. You got that?"
"Really?" asked Rusty. "You would prefer it that way?"
"Yes I would. Now, if you don't mind, I'll go back to my eggs and we'll start this again. I want sly and cunning,OK?
"Very well...as you wish." Then confused and still hungry, Rusty returned to the forest.
"Sly and cunning...sly and cunning", he mumbled. "I think I can manage that."
He got down on his paws and made his way back to the farm as slylty as he could.
Meanwhile, back at the coop, mable was very excited. "Oh, I can't hear a thing!" she whispered to herself. "This is much better. Much, much better!"
Just then Rusty popped out of the last bush, head down and full of cunning. His feet hit the stone path and....CLIP, CLOP, CLIP, CLOP, CLIP, CLOP!!"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" screamed Mable. WHY ARE YOU WEARING SHOES?!? IN ALL MY LIFE...DO YOU KNOW WHAT QUIET MEANS? GO BACK AND DO IT AGAIN, AND TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES!!!"
"I do apologize", Rusty stuttered. "I don't know what I was thinking. I do beg your pardon".
And back he went, took off his shoes and tried again.
Head down and wiley, he crept and stalked barefoot through the trees and bushes. He'd never felt so cunning in all his life. "Oh yes!" he thought to himself. "I think I've got the hang of this. She'll never know I'm there."
Meanwhile, back at the coop, Mable was shaking with anticipation., and very impressed with the foxes slyness. "Perfect!" she chuckled. "I have no idea there is a fox about! This is marvelous!"
At that moment, Rusty sprang silently out of the last bashand hit the path without a sound. But as he crept, his toe hit a stone and Rusty let out an almighty yell.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" screamed Mable, eyes popping out of her head. FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, THIS IS A JOKE! YOU CALL YOURSELF A FOX?!? I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOU! GO BACK AND TRY AGAIN, AND THIS TIME.....BE QUIET!"
"I feel like such a fool. My deepest apologies chicken. Please forgive me."
Then back Rusty went, feeling terribly ashamed and incredibly hungry.
Rusty was determined this time. He took off his jacket and bow tie and stooped to the floor. Then like a fox(for he was a fox) he made his return, in the most cunning fashion he could manage. "This is more like it!" he smiled. "My paws are barely touching the ground I am so sly. I'm as slent as a breeze. Not a soul in the world knows I am here. Well done me!"
Meanwhile, back at the coop, Mable was like a child on Christmas Eve. "Oh what a fox! What a wonderful fox! He is an example to all foxes. I don't remember ever being crept upon a swell as this. He could be anywhere! How exciting!"
Rusty was really in the swing of things. He was a perfect example of sly. Like a fox colored stream gliding through the bushes and trees. He popped out of the last bush as silent as a ghost and slid beautifully across the stone path and up to the gate. He had a choice. Over the top, or under the fence. He thought for a moment. Then, he stood up, rapped loudly on the gate and called,
"My dear chicken! I have arrived, and I am starving! I insist that you let me eat you!"
"WHA...WHA...WHA...WHAT!?! Mable screamed. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS! THAT IS IT! I GIVE UP!
Rusty panicked. "Oh, I beg you chicken, please give me one more chance. I am as hungry as a horse!"
"Mmmm...very well. But this time, PLEASE sneak under the fence . I don't want to hear a peep from you!"
"I shall do just that," said Rusty and returned to the forest as quick as he could.
"Sneak, prowl, slip, crawl, swipe", he muttered to himself. "Sneak, prowl, slip, crawl, swipe....Oh, bless my soul, I AM hungry!"
He got down low and focused. he knew what to do. He visualized the approach. Then, like a flash, he was off. A fox shaped arrow slipping like mercury through the forest. He was sly at it's best. Cunning at its most cunning. Never before had a fox approached a chicken coop with such stealth.
Meanwhile, back at the coop, Mable was beside herself. "This is wonderful! The fox is taking me for a fool. This is the height of sly! I could kiss that fox for being so cunning! I really have no inkling of his whereabouts! My, oh, my, oh my! I feel totally outsmarted! Wonderful, wonderful fox!"
Rusty popped out of the last bush in a silent blur and glided across the stone path and up to the gate. Then without the slightest whisper, he dug a hole under the fence and slipped under. He was close. Very close. And no one had any idea! "This is going swimmingly", he thought to himself. Then, with his head down, he crawled on his belly like a snake on wheels . Silently, closer....closer....closer..closer...then....
CRASH!!!! He ran face first intot he coop and broke his nose!
"YYYOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWW!!!!!"
"WH...WH....WH.....WH.....WHAT WAS THAT?!? screamed Mable. ARE YOU CRAZY?!? GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT! AND DON'T COME BACK! THS CHICKEN IS OFF THE MENU! GOODBYE!"
And with that, she stormed back inside the coop and slammed the door shut behind her.
"Charming!" said Rusty holdng his nose. "She could use a few manners. I do believe I have lost my appetite".
And with that, Rusty the fox went home, put on his clothes and shoes and sat down to think about what he could have for dinner that night.
Definately, NOT chicken!
THE END
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Monday 20 May 2013
This Spring
One beautiful spring day
as their eyes slowly opened for the first time after their long sleep, Mr. and
Mrs. Bear had only one thought on their minds. Had Mother Nature finally
granted them their wish this year? Mr. Bear knew instinctively what his wife
was thinking and looked at her closely. “Well…?” his eyes questioned, “…..Do
you feel…different?” Mrs. Bear couldn’t be sure. Every spring when she awoke
she felt something. But was it the first signs of life inside her, or the knot
of fear that once again her prayers had not been answered?
She blinked at the
sunlight creeping through the entrance of the cave and made one more silent
wish before she fully opened her eyes and stretched her stiff body against the
carpet of stale leaves that had been her bed for the last three months. She
opened her nose and let in the first sweet perfumes of spring, which always
seemed to bring her to life. She paused, for she knew that beyond the entrance
of the cave, the glade and the forest around them was holding it’s breath in
anticipation of Mrs. Bear’s news. Each and every new mother of the forest lay
silently, containing their own personal joy, as they had learned to do with the
coming of each spring.
Mr. Bear gave Mrs.
Bear’s paw a warm squeeze and helped her to her feet. It was a daunting event,
stepping out into a forest crackling with hope. They loved their friends for
thinking about them like this, and they longed to let them know that at last,
this year, they could all celebrate together.
A stretch, a yawn,
one more loving squeeze and Mr. Bear led his wife back out into the world they
left quiet and white only a blink ago.
They were once
again greeted by the sun and the ever glorious palette of spring colors. The
glade was beautiful - the perfect place to raise a family. So many times Mrs. Bear had closed her eyes
and imagined their little cub bounding playfully in the grass, chewing clover,
chasing dragonflies until he was dizzy, and falling at her feet. She could
almost feel his soft, thick fur, warm from the sun- imagined burying her nose
into it and smelling his wonderful baby smell. And so often her imagination
allowed her to hold him in her arms while he slept and there she would stay for
hours, happy and warm until her mind lost focus and she was left empty and
cold, resigned to the painful fact that she may never actually meet that little
cub.
Together they
walked slowly down to the stream, past trees dripping with blossom and flowers
of every shade that seemed to sing with color.. As they walked, Mr. Bear’s
thoughts were for his wife. He looked into her eyes and saw what he had seen
too many times - the confusion of a soul crying out to know what happiness can
be found in motherhood and a relentlessly optimistic heart full of love and
hope, shadowed by a doubt that it was all in vain and her heart would be broken
once more.
He himself, often
dreamed of a son whom he could spend endless hours with, teaching how to fish,
hunt and scratch his back against trees. He would imagine the joy and
contentment on his wife’s face as she held her cub close and rocked him to
sleep. He wanted to know these moments for real, to walk proudly through the forest
with his son at his side. Surely this year.
They reached the
stream and began to drink. The thaw brought the forest a delicious supply of
crisp, fresh water, perfect for their dry, dusty mouths and they both let out a
gasp as the icy water refreshed them so suddenly. As they drank, Mr. Bear
spotted their breakfast. Half hidden behind a rock, suspended in the current,
and big enough for the two of them. Driven by instinct and hunger Mr. Bear
struck with such accuracy that within twenty seconds he and Mrs. Bear were
enjoying fresh trout on the warm bank of the stream and within another twenty
seconds the fish was gone.
They spent the
rest of the day visiting the friends they hadn’t seen since before their
hibernation, discussing baby names and calculating arrival dates. As always Mr.
and Mrs. Bear spoke of their cub as if the doubt and fear was not even there,
so as not to dampen the joy of the others around them. But as they left their
friends and wandered back to their cave that evening, the smiles they had so
bravely worn all day, quickly melted away. They had little hope that they would
be naming a cub this spring, but they would wait and see, as they always did,
because they couldn’t do anything else.
The wait felt as long
as every other year and the disappointment as crushing as the first time they realized
it was not to be. The following months passed so slowly as they longed for winter so they
could just curl up and go to sleep.
But the bears were
unaware of a miracle which was taking place. They had no idea of what their
endless wishing and longing was creating far above their heads. How each and
every time their hearts pleaded for a cub, that a brand new star was formed in
the night sky. They had prayed so hard and for so long that a cluster of stars had formed a
tiny constellation to the west. Mr. and Mrs. Bear could not see it, nestled in
a sky already littered with a billion tiny lights. They looked at the sky every
night. They cried beneath it in their deepest moments of pain. They had howled
their prayers at the vast blackness in the desperate hope that they would be
heard. They couldn’t have asked any harder. It left them shattered sometimes,
but all the while that formation of stars shone brighter every night as new
stars joined it.
It was the last
night of autumn. Mr. and Mrs. Bear were settled in their cave upon a fresh
carpet of dried leaves and moss. From her position on the floor, Mrs. Bear
could see a thin sliver of star speckled sky through the entrance of the cave.
As she lay there, she whispered her last prayer before sleep. “We have waited
and wished for so long. We are tired but we will not give up. If there is any
depth left to my soul, from there I pray that next spring will bring us a cub.” Her tired eyes closed, her husband curled up
close beside her and they both fell fast asleep.
At the moment
their bodies drifted into a deep slumber, the magic began. Up in the sky the
new cluster of stars began to sparkle brighter and brighter, their glow casting
a brilliant light over the land below. Then suddenly the stars began to move,
changing their positions as if an invisible hand was at work, arranging each
and every star until a shape was formed. The shape of a bear cub! Then
incredibly, the stars exploded with light and a solid shape burst from the
constellation and hung like an ornament against the velvet black. The shape
glowed and pulsed like a heartbeat, quicker and quicker, sending flashes of silver and gold across the
sky. Eventually, the pulsating began to slow and the light began to fade and
the galaxy was held in awe and wonder at what was taking place within it.
When finally the light
faded and the shape came to rest, and the Earth and Heavens dared open their
eyes again, there, bathed in soft, winter moonlight was a beautiful, sleeping
baby bear.
The cub opened his eyes, looked down upon
the forest far below and smiled. Then, as gently as a mother lays her baby in a
crib, the cub began to float down from the sky. Down, down, down he fell, drawn
by the love waiting for him in the cave. Closer and closer he came, through the
clouds, over the mountaintops, and down past the canopy of the forest and above
the glade, until finally he reached the entrance of the cave. And there he
stopped. So close they were now, that even though they were fast asleep, Mr.
and Mrs. Bear felt an incredible joy rush through them, which caused tears to
well in their eyes.
As he drifted into the cave, a moonbeam cut
a path through the dark and led the baby bear towards a space, inches above the
arms which longed to hold him. And finally he dropped, to settle cozy and safe
between his Mummy and Daddy.
The bears laid there together for the rest
of the winter, warmer than usual, and as the snow melted away with the changing
of the season, so too did the pain they had held for so long, for their hearts
knew that when they awoke, this spring would be the one they’d been waiting
for.
Friday 17 May 2013
All By Myself
All By Myself
Mother bird had laid four pretty little eggs. Every day and every night she gave them love and warmth, until one morning, one of the eggs hatched, and out popped mother bird’s first chick.
“Hello mummy!” he said, looking up at her with his big brown eyes.
“Well, hello little one!” smiled his mother as she straightened his feathers and kissed his head.
He looked around then said, “I’m the first! I will help you look after the other eggs.”
“That’s very kind of you,” his mother replied. “I will need your help. But first you must learn how to fly.”
So, mother bird showed the chick what to do and in no time at all, he was able to lift himself into the air. With a bit more practice he was soon flying in circles around his mother’s head until eventually she said, “I believe you are ready to leave the nest and explore the forest by yourself.”
“BY MYSELF!” cried the chick. “I can’t go by myself. I need you with me mummy!”
“But I can’t go with you. I have to stay here and look after the eggs. But I’ll be here waiting for you when you get back.”
The chick’s beak started to tremble, his eyes filled with tears, and then he started to cry. “WAAAAAAA!”
Mother bird didn’t know what to do. She hated to see her son so sad, but she dreaded the thought of leaving her eggs alone. The chick cried and cried.
Finally, she said, “OK, I’ll come with you. But just this once, okay?”
“Okay!” said the chick happily and grabbed her wing.
They stood on the edge of the nest as mother bird took a nervous last look at her eggs. Then with a flap, flap, hop, they were out of the nest and soaring up into the sky.
Little did mother bird know, but from out of the shadows, a hungry snake was making its way towards the nest in search of his lunch. Mother bird spotted it out of the corner of her eye, just before the snake was about to strike. In an instant she was back, pecking and scratching at the snake with all her strength until it slithered away.
“Oh my!” she screamed. “That was too close! I will never leave you again my precious eggs. I’m so sorry!”
Then, she settled back down onto the eggs, and as a tear rolled down her cheek, the chick promised himself that he would go alone next time.
The next day mother bird told the chick that they needed some grass and twigs to fix a hole in the nest.
“Okay, let’s go!” chirped the chick.
“Oh no, I’m not going,” said his mother. I have to stay here and look after the eggs. Please go by yourself.”
The chick’s face dropped. “BY MYSELF!” he cried. “I can’t go by myself! I need you with me mummy!” His beak started to tremble, his eyes filled with tears, and then he started to cry. “WAAAAAAA!”
His wails drew attention from other birds in the nearby trees, so out of embarrassment mother bird said, “Okay, okay, I’ll go with you. But this is definitely the last time. Do you understand?”
“Oh yes!” the chick cried, and he grabbed her wing quickly.
They stood on the edge of the nest as mother bird took a nervous last look at her eggs. Then with a flap, flap, hop, they were out of the nest and gliding over the land below.
But while they were away, a hungry hawk came hovering over the tree, eyeing up the eggs for his lunch. Mother bird caught sight of the hawk just in time, and in a heartbeat was back, pecking and scratching at the hawk with all her might, until it gave up and flew away.
“Oh my! Oh my!” she gasped. “How could I have left you again my precious eggs. I am so, so sorry!”
With a sigh, she settled back down onto the eggs, and as a tear rolled down her cheek the chick promised himself that he really would go alone next time.
The days passed and the chick grew, but the other eggs still had not hatched. Mother bird was worried and hungry, so she asked the chick to go and find some tasty worms and grubs.
“By myself?” asked the chick nervously.
“Of course,” replied his mother. “I have to stay here and look after the eggs.”
The chick took a deep breath, held up his chin and stuck out his chest. “Okay mummy!” he said bravely. “I’ll go by myself!”
He stood on the edge of the nest and took a nervous last look at his mother. She smiled back proudly. Then with a flap, flap, hop, the chick….. STOPPED! His beak started to tremble, his eyes filled with tears, and then he started to cry. “WAAAAAA! I can’t go by myself! I need you with me mummy!”
The chick felt awful. He really did want to go by himself, to be brave and strong and to help his mother. But he just couldn’t. He cried and he cried.
Mother bird wiped the tears from his face, stood up, and took his wing in hers. They stood on the edge of the nest as mother bird took a nervous last look at her eggs. Then with a flap, flap, hop, they were out of the nest and floating down towards the ground.
But, as they were busy looking for worms and grubs, a hungry rat came sneaking towards the nest looking for his lunch. Mummy bird spotted it just in time and in a flash was back, pecking and scratching at the rat with all her heart, until it scurried away as fast as it could.
Mummy bird was angry this time. “THAT IS IT!” she screamed. “I am not leaving these eggs again!”
Then with a huff she plonked herself back down onto the eggs, and that’s where she stayed.
The days passed and the chick grew. He grew into a fine little bird, and the eggs hatched into three fluffy little brothers and sisters for the chick. The chick was so proud of them. He felt he could do anything for them. He looked at his mother. She looked tired and he so wanted to do something nice for her. So, he decided that he would go and find her some sweet, juicy berries to eat.
The thought of leaving the nest alone scared him cold, but he knew he had to do it. He just had to!
He took a deep breath, held up his chin, stuck out his chest and said, “Mother, I want to leave the nest for a while.”
His mother stood up wearily and reached for his wing.
“Oh, no mother. You don’t need to come. I’m going by ALL BY MYSELF!”
Mother bird’s face lit up. “Really? Will you really my darling son?”
“Yes mother. It is time.”
And with that the chick stepped up onto the edge of the nest. He took a nervous last look at his mother and at the three fluffy chicks staring proudly at their brother. Then with a flap, flap, hop….. he was out of the nest and soaring through the forest, all by himself!
My Girls
My Girls June 2011
I’m wondering how
they’ll all fit on my knee,
One more wanting
knee space is bound to cause trouble.
How my wife and I
will cope with three,
To many our
situation must seem quite funny.
But with older
sisters she’ll always have clothes,
When Mummy and
Daddy are up to their chin.
We’ve handled two,
we can handle a third,
When I think of
her, I forget all these things.
The biggest
challenge will be choosing a name.
Sibling Rivalry
Sibling Rivalry June
2011
When our two
lovely daughters are fighting,
They choose to
settle disputes in this way,
Is all that it
takes for a full on attack,
Big Sister is screaming,
but she doesn’t care,
Little one felt
that and she starts to cry,
Nails in the face,
now that was malicious!
My wife and I
wonder, should we stop the fight,
And we are all
laughing because somebody farted!
My Baby Sister
My Baby Sister
Me, Daddy
and Mummy,
But now
there is a baby girl,
Inside my
Mummy’s tummy.
Now I can’t
wait to see her,
So many
things I want to do,
When she
is finally here.
Do things
that she finds funny,
Silly
faces, peek-a-boo,
And
raspberries on her tummy.
And give
her my old toys,
If she’s
like me, she’ll love the ones,
That make
a lot of noise.
When she’s
tired I’ll give her milk,
And hold
her warm and tight,
And I’ll
be there to stroke her back,
When she
wakes up at night.
I know
she’ll try to eat,
So in
return I’ll tickle her,
Soft
cheeks and tiny feet.
Will
really, really miss her,
She’ll be
my favourite little girl,
I’ll love
my baby sister.
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A Poem To Celebrate My Daughter's Energy
A Poem to Celebrate My Daughter’s Energy June 2011
You put on your pajamas and get into bed,
You want to sleep but you can’t right away,
Because your head is full of things you did today.
The journey alone seemed to take half a day,
Your legs were so tired but you didn’t stop,
You saw the slide and you climbed to the top.
How many times? Maybe 9…maybe 10!
Then did you rest? Oh no, not at all,
Because in your backpack, you had a ball.
Around and around and around the playground,
Then did you rest? Not at all, no such thing!
You played on the climbing frame, see saw and swing.
A ride on the roundabout made you quite dizzy,
Then did you rest? No, no, you didn’t stop,
Off you went again with a skip and a hop.
Each time you tried you got faster and faster,
You wouldn’t stop until you had it beat,
Your arms felt like they had stretched down to your feet.
I thought you would rest but no, you weren’t done yet,
Once more on the swings but I had to say “No”,
“I’m sorry sweetheart but we have to go”.
So all the way home you were running and hopping,
And because it was a beautiful day,
We decided to walk all the way.
Oh no you didn’t, not one little bit,
You laughed and you sang as you ran up the aisles,
A wonderful maze that went on for miles.
The shopping was heavy but you carried it back,
You must have been tired but you didn’t moan,
You struggled on until we reached our home.
Your little heart thumping away in your chest,
I thought you would take a short nap on the floor,
But then you jumped up and ran out the door.
You counted first, but I saw you peek,
I hid so well that you couldn’t find me.
You gave up looking and climbed up a tree.
Daddy LOVES you!
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