03 The Fox and the Crow

3. THE FOX AND THE

CROW

By Rob John

One morning a Fox was walk

ing through the woods looking

for something tasty to eat for his

breakfast when his nose picked

up a scent - a scent of something

very interesting. He stood still and

sniffed the air.

‘Cheese,’ he said. ‘I smell cheese.

Now why would there be cheese in

the middle of a wood like this?’

The Fox didn’t have to wait long to

find out because there sitting on a

branch high up in a tree sat a crow

and in the crow’s beak was the

biggest piece of cheese he’d ever

seen.

Now the Fox loved cheese more

than anything in the whole world

and he decided that come what

may he would have that piece of

cheese for himself.

‘Morning Mr Crow,’ he said. ‘Why

don’t you come down and have a

little chat.’

The Crow didn’t reply. He just sat

on his branch and looked down at

the Fox.

‘He must think I’m stupid,’ thought

the Crow to himself. ‘That fox is

after my cheese. If I fly down there

he’ll jump on me and gobble me

up first and then the cheese. Foxes

can’t climb trees so I’ll just sit up

here and enjoy my piece of cheese.’

The Crow was just about to swallow

his lump of cheese when the Fox

said.

‘That cheese looks a bit mouldy to

me. I wouldn’t eat it if I were you.

Mouldy cheese is very very danger

ous. You could easily get ill from

bad cheese. If I were you I’d be

on the safe side and just drop that

cheese right now.’

‘Oh no,’ thought the Crow. ‘I’m not

falling for that. There’s nothing

wrong with this cheese. I found it

fresh this morning. It smells won

derful and I’m going to eat it right

now.’

1The Crow looked straight at the Fox

and waggled his piece of cheese as

if to say ‘Look what I’ve got! Aren’t

I the lucky one!’

‘Right,’ thought the Fox. ‘This Crow

isn’t quite as stupid as he looks.

I’m going to have to try something

else.’

‘You know, Mr Crow,’ said the Fox,

‘you really do have the most lovely

feathers.’

The Crow smiled to himself. He

was rather proud of his sleek black

feathers. The Fox was right. They

were rather lovely.

‘And your head,’ said the Fox. ‘Your

head is very fine indeed. Makes

you look fierce...but wise at the

same time.’

‘Right again,’ thought the Crow.

‘That Fox knows what he’s talking

about because I do look fierce...

and I am very very wise.’

‘And I bet you’ve got the most

beautiful singing voice too,’ said

the Fox. ‘I can tell just by looking

at you. I mean all crows are good

singers...’

The Crow nodded.

‘And I bet you’re the best singer

out of all the crows.’

The Crow nodded again.

‘See, I can tell you’re a great sing

er just by looking at you. Oh how

I’d love to hear you sing. Just once.

That’s all I ask. Just one little song

would make me so happy.’

The Crow’s mind was racing as the

Fox started to walk away.

‘Oh well I see I’m not in luck today,’

sighed the Fox. ‘Suppose I’ll just

have to go and listen to a boring

old sky lark...or nightingale...’

The crow thought to himself. ‘The

Fox is right. I’m a wonderful sing

er. Much better than those boring

nightingales...and larks...very

over-rated...I shall sing. I shall sing

for the Fox right now.’

As the crow opened his beak and

started to sing...the piece of

cheese fell to the ground.

The Fox licked his lips. ‘Thank you

Mr Crow,’ he said. ‘You can stop

singing now. That horrible sound’s

spoiling my breakfast.’

2‘But you said you loved to hear a

crow sing.’

‘Never believe what people tell you

when they’re trying to steal your

cheese,’ said the Fox...and he winked

at the crow as he gobbled up the

last little bit.

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