The Return of Poppa Fox

Poppa Fox finds himself far away from home. He needs help getting back, will he find it?

As you might remember, Poppa Fox had been caught by the owners of the chicken coop, and dropped off miles away.

Well, it might surprise you to know that he was still alive.

Here’s what happened:

The owners put him in a bag and threw him in the back of the truck. They drove for a long time, then suddenly stopped, took the bag with Poppa Fox in it out of the truck and let him loose.

Poppa Fox heard the sound of a gunshot, but he did not get shot. He had dodged into the forest and was long gone.

Poppa Fox ran and ran until he knew he was out of range, and stopped at a stream for a drink. He was tired and needed to sleep, so he found a spot under a trunk, just like back home, and fell asleep.

He awoke when the sun was just coming up. He tried hard to smell his way back, but realized his nose had gotten hurt on the trip, and ended up going in circles.

He was definitely lost, and needed help. But where would he find help? He hadn’t seen anyone since last night.

Poppa Fox decided to climb up into a tree and see what he could see. As he reached the top, he was startled by flapping of wings and fell a couple of branches before catching himself.

“Watch where you’re climbing,” said the voice.

“Grackle?” said Poppa Fox. He could recognize that raspy voice anywhere.

“Oh, hello Poppa Fox,” said Grackle. “Aren’t you a little far from home?”

“Well, yes,” said Poppa Fox. “I am. It’s just what I needed to ask you. Would you mind helping me find my way back home?”

“What’s wrong with your nose?” asked Grackle.

“Well, it kind of stopped working,” said Poppa Fox.

“Hmm,” said Grackle. “Yeah. I can help you.”

“Really? Great,” said Poppa Fox. “Are you gonna fly around an spot my home from way up in the sky?”

“No.” said Grackle. “I know where you live, but I need you to do something for me before I tell you how to get home.”

“Oh,” said Poppa Fox impatiently, “OK. What is it?

“Well,” said Grackle, “I want Alligator’s watch.”

“Alligator’s watch?” asked Poppa Fox. “What for?”

“No questions,” said Grackle.

“OK! OK! I’ll get it for you,” said Poppa Fox and he climbed down the tree.

He started walking toward the stream and Grackle interrupted,

“The pond is that way.”

And Poppa Fox turned and went that way.

It took him no time to get to the pond, and there was Alligator, looking lovingly at his watch.

“Hello Alligator.” Called out Poppa Fox. “How are you today?”

“Oh, hello Poppa Fox,” said Alligator. “I’m fine, but aren’t you far away from home?”

“Yes,” said Poppa Fox. “I am far from home. That’s why I need your help.”

“Oh, sure, what is it?” said Alligator happily. “Anything for you my friend.”

“Can I have your watch?” asked Poppa Fox.

Alligator started laughing. Then he started twisting his body around. Then he stopped suddenly and said, “NO!”

“Do you know how much trouble I went though for this watch?” asked Alligator.

“Yes,” said Poppa Fox. “I do. I remember. It’s OK. I didn’t think you’d say yes.”

And he started to walk away with his head hung low.

“Wait a minute,” said Alligator. “I’ll trade you for it.”

“Trade me?” asked Poppa Fox. “For what?”

“I want Monkey’s ball!” said Alligator as he shined up the watch.

“OK,” said Poppa Fox. “You’re saying that if I get you Monkey’s ball, then you’ll give me the watch?”

“Yes!” Alligator.

“Great!” said Poppa Fox happily. “Monkey owes me a favor. I’ll be right back.”

Poppa Fox bounded off toward Monkey’s place.

“Monkey!” yelled Poppa Fox up to the tree. “Are you up there?”

There was a rustling in the branches.

“Of course I’m up here!” yelled out monkey from behind the leaves. “Where else would I be?”

“Sure,” said Poppa Fox. “That’s a good point. Hey, listen, can I have your ball?”

“What do you want my ball for?” asked Monkey.

“It’s a long story,” said Poppa Fox, “I’ll bring some coffee over next week and we can talk about it.”

“Well, sure I’ll let you have it,” said Monkey.

There were a lot of rustling leaves and moving branches. Poppa Fox waited below.

“Hey, Fox?” said Monkey.

“Did you find it?” said Poppa Fox.

“I did, but I need something from you before I let you have it,” said Monkey.

“What?” said Poppa Fox? “Come on, man. Just let me have it. You owe me remember?”

Monkey was quiet for a moment.

“I know I owe you,” said Monkey. “I will always be grateful for what you did, but your brother, see, he owes me big time.”

Poppa Fox thought for a moment.

“I hear you,” said Poppa Fox. “If I do this thing for you, you’ll forgive my brother’s debt?”

“Precisely,” said Monkey. “And you’ll get your ball.”

“OK,” said Poppa Fox. “What is it?”

Monkey proceeded to request from Poppa Fox a Ladybug from Rabbit.

Rabbit was willing to hand over a Ladybug, but in return, he wanted a nut from Sister Squirrel.

Sister Squirrel wanted something too.

“A ride on Grackle’s back,” said Sister Squirrel.

This threw Poppa Fox for a loop. How was he going to convince Grackle to give her a ride on his back AND help him get home?

Well, he thought he’d try. He decided to ask Sister Squirrel for the nut, sort of as a down payment. She was so sweet, she actually agreed.

“Oh, I have so many of them,” she said. “I won’t miss it.”

Poppa Fox hugged her and went straight for Rabbit’s house. Rabbit was pleased by the size and smell and weight of the nut. He gladly handed over the ladybug.

The ladybug wiggled and squirmed in Poppa Fox’s hand. When Poppa Fox arrived at Monkeys tree, Monkey shook the branches.

“Monkey, are you there?” asked Poppa Fox.

Without a response, a little basket hung on a string slowly made it’s way down from one of the branches.

The basket contained a rose leaf with aphids crawling all over it.

Poppa Fox opened his hand and out flew ladybug, right into the basket. Then the basket gently made it’s way back up to the branches and disappeared into the leaves.

Poppa Fox waited for a moment, until out from the leaves dropped Alligator’s ball.

“Thanks, Monkey,” said Poppa Fox, but there was no response.

Poppa Fox gave the ball to Alligator, who tried very hard to convince Poppa Fox to stay and play ball with him. He even said he wouldn’t give Poppa Fox the watch unless he played for a little bit.

Poppa Fox told Alligator how dishonest he was for not holding up his side of the deal, and Alligator knew Poppa Fox was right. Alligator gave Poppa Fox the watch.

“Let me throw the ball for you,” said Poppa Fox just before he turned to leave.

He threw the ball as far across the pond as he could, and Alligator dove in behind it. He loved playing ball.

Poppa Fox ran the rest of the way to where he was to meet Grackle, and had to wait a few minutes for Grackle to return.

When he returned, he snatched the watch from Poppa Fox’s paws and flew away.

Poppa Fox was confused, and bewildered. He had done what Grackle had asked. He started to become angry. But just as he was about to scream, Grackle came back.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Poppa Fox,” said Grackle.

Grackle had the watch in one claw and wrapping paper and a bow in the other.

“Do you think you could wrap the watch up for me?” said Grackle.

“Um, sure,” said Poppa Fox.

As he wrapped the present, Grackle told him how to get back home. As it turns out, Poppa Fox was very close; apparently, he lived right around the corner from where they were.

“Oh, Grackle,” said Poppa Fox. “I promised Sister Squirrel that you would give her a ride on your back. Do you think you can do that?”

“Sister Squirrel wants a ride on my back?” asked Grackle.

“Yes,” said Poppa Fox. “Is that going to be a problem?”

“No, no, no problem at all,” said Grackle dreamily. “In fact, I was just going there to give her the watch. I wanted to give her something to let her know that I liked her.”

“Oh, yes,” said Poppa Fox. “It’s very pretty.”

“And now I come to find out she wants a ride on my back,” said Grackle. “That’s great, I don’t need the watch at all.”

At that, Grackle took off and left Poppa Fox needing someone’s finger to tie the bow.

So, Poppa Fox found his way home. Everyone was happy to see him. They had a big party and invited Grackle, Alligator, Monkey, Rabbit and Sister Squirrel. Oh, and Wolfhound and Momma Chicken and Momma Duck came as well.

The only one missing was Brother Fox. No one had seen him since the humans took Poppa Fox away.

“He went looking for you,” said Momma Fox.

At that, Poppa Fox began planning how he would find Brother Fox.

The End.