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Aesop’s Fables
22. THE FOX AND THE ‘Frogs, fish, insects and earthworms are
my favourites,’ replied Stork.
STORK
‘Mine too - oh, leaving aside frogs,’ said
By Kate Stonham
Fox. ‘I eat nuts and berries too - and I’m
A rather large bird was wandering round very partial to the occasional little bird.’
the wood, looking a bit lost. It had long
legs, a long thin neck and a very long ‘Boo, hiss!’ cried the birds from above.
bill for eating, that clattered away as it
searched for nice things to eat. ‘Only joking,’ said Fox rather too quickly.
‘Hey there, big bird!’ cried the little birds in ‘Would you like to come around my house
the trees above. ‘You’re new round these tomorrow for supper, Stork?’
parts, aren’t you?’
‘It’s a trick, it’s a trick!’ chorused the birds.
‘Indeed I am,’ replied Stork. ‘And I’d like
to make some friends.’ ‘Thank you, Fox, I’d love to!’
‘I’ll be your friend,’ purred a soft voice That night, Stork flew over to Fox’s house.
from behind a bush. Out slunk Fox with
his shiny red coat and soft paws. ‘Come in!’ cried Fox as he showed Stork
into the dining room. ‘I hope you like fish
‘Oooo, we wouldn’t make friends with old soup with mashed earthworms.’
Foxy if we were you,’ chorused the birds.
‘He’s a bit of a joker.’ Stork was expecting to see two bowls full
of lovely steaming soup - but instead, two
‘Oh, ignore them’, Fox purred reas- flat plates covered in a thin layer of liquid
suringly. ‘Please, allow me to show you lay on the table.
round the woods...’
Stork tried her hardest to eat the soup
Fox and Stork were soon laughing and with her bill, but it was impossible.
chatting as if they’d known each other
forever.
‘What do you like to eat, Stork?’ asked
Fox.
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Fox meanwhile was already licking his ‘Mmm, my favourite,’ said Fox as Stork
bowl clean. ‘Oh, dear, is there a problem?’ carried in a tray.
he asked with a smirk.
He stared at the tall jar Stork had placed
‘Not at all,’ replied Stork. ‘It’s just - well, I in front of him. It was long and thin and
had rather a large tea before I came and the food lay right at the bottom.
my tummy’s full.’
Fox watched in frustration as Stork stuck
‘Tea - I like the sound of that,’ purred Fox. her long bill into her jar and gobbled up
the meal. ‘Oh dear,’ said Stork. ‘Is there a
‘Well, why don’t you come to my home problem?’
tomorrow and join me?’ suggested Stork.
‘None at all,’ growled Fox. He stuck his
‘I shall look forward to it,’ replied Fox. nose as far down the jar as he could, but
he still couldn’t reach his dinner.
Stork flew home that night with a heavy
heart. And now there really was a problem.
‘We warned you, we warned you!’ ‘Yowl! The jar’s stuck to my face!’ came
chorused the birds. Fox’s muffled cries.
‘I know, my so-called friend tricked me,’ ‘Hee hee! Serves you right, Foxy,’
replied Stork. ‘But I may yet have the last chorused the birds who were watching
laugh.’ on the window sill. For once, Fox couldn’t
answer back.
The next day, Fox set off for Stork’s house.
‘I’ll pull it off with my wings,’ offered Stork
‘Shame on you!’ cried the birds as he kindly.
slunk under their tree.
‘Hmmm, I guess I deserved that after the
‘Stork can take a joke,’ Fox replied. ‘And joke I played on you,’ said Fox sheepishly.
after all, she’s invited me over for tea.’
‘Never mind,’ said Stork. ‘I’ve got plenty
‘Hee, hee!’ sniggered the birds. of food in the kitchen. This time we’ll have
it on proper plates - and our little feath-
‘Come in!’ said Stork to Fox. ‘I’ve cooked ered friends can have some too.’
roast rabbit on a bed of grass with berry
and nut sauce. ‘Wee, hee!’ cried the birds.
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