Monday, 20 May 2013

Rusty The Un-Sly Fox

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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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.

                                                   The End

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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!

   And from that day forward, that brave little bird didn’t need his mother’s wing, ever again.

                                                               The End

My Girls


My Girls   June 2011

 
I have two daughters but soon I’ll have three,

I’m wondering how they’ll all fit on my knee,

 
Already the two that I have like to squabble,

One more wanting knee space is bound to cause trouble.

 
But to be honest I can’t wait to see,

How my wife and I will cope with three,

 
We’re not getting younger and we have no money,

To many our situation must seem quite funny.

 
Our flat will get even smaller the more that she grows,

But with older sisters she’ll always have clothes,

 
And two extra parents to always step in,

When Mummy and Daddy are up to their chin.

 
But we’re SUPER parents, haven’t you heard?

We’ve handled two, we can handle a third,

 
I know all the joy that a new baby brings,

When I think of her, I forget all these things.

 
When she arrives life will not be the same,

The biggest challenge will be choosing a name.
 

Sibling Rivalry


Sibling Rivalry  June 2011

 
There’s punching and scratching and kicking and biting,

When our two lovely daughters are fighting,

 
It seems that nearly every day,

They choose to settle disputes in this way,

 
A pen slyly taken and quickly snatched back,

Is all that it takes for a full on attack,

 
Little one suddenly goes for the hair,

Big Sister is screaming, but she doesn’t care,

 
She retaliates with a punch in the eye,

Little one felt that and she starts to cry,

 
The knee jerk response is equally vicious,

Nails in the face, now that was malicious!

 
She blindly lunges with all of her might,

My wife and I wonder, should we stop the fight,

 
We don’t and it stops, as quick as it started,

And we are all laughing because somebody farted!
 

My Baby Sister


My Baby Sister

 
Since I was born it’s only been,

Me, Daddy and Mummy,

But now there is a baby girl,

Inside my Mummy’s tummy.

 
At first it felt a little strange,

Now I can’t wait to see her,

So many things I want to do,

When she is finally here.

 
I’ll read her books and sing her songs,

Do things that she finds funny,

Silly faces, peek-a-boo,

And raspberries on her tummy.

 
I’ll dress her up in my old clothes,

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’ll let her squeeze my finger which,

I know she’ll try to eat,

So in return I’ll tickle her,

Soft cheeks and tiny feet.

 
When I’m at school I know that I,

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

 
At the end of the day as the sun starts to set,

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.

 
First, you walked to the park, which was so far away,

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.

 
Then you slid down and ran back up again,

How many times? Maybe 9…maybe 10!

Then did you rest? Oh no, not at all,

Because in your backpack, you had a ball.

 
You threw it and kicked it and chased it around,

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.

 
Up and down, back and forth, you were so busy,

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.

 
To the monkey bars you were determined to master,

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.

 
Your hands full of blisters and covered in sweat,

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”.

 
Because Mummy was waiting for us to go shopping,

So all the way home you were running and hopping,

And because it was a beautiful day,

We decided to walk all the way.

 
When we got to the shop did you rest? Did you sit?

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.

 
You helped push the trolley and even helped pack,

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.

 
Then you sat down, and you took a rest,

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 begged of me, “Daddy, let’s play hide and seek!”

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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