Good evening and welcome to Dreamtime Stories with Jackie.
I'm so glad you're here as we explore another chapter with old Granny Fox.
In chapter 20,
Granny and Reddy saw their stolen dinner stolen by somebody else and they were pretty upset.
So snuggle down in your covers,
Get ready for another sleepy story.
As we read chapter 21,
Granny and Reddy talk things over.
You'll find as on through life you go,
The thing you want may prove to be the very thing you shouldn't have.
Then seeming losses gain,
You see,
Old Granny Fox.
If ever two folks were mad mad through,
Those two were Granny and Reddy Fox as they watched Old Man Coyote gobble up the dinner that they had so cleverly stolen from Bowser the Hound.
It was bad enough to lose that dinner,
But it was worse to see someone else eat it after they had worked so hard to get it.
Robber,
Snarled Granny.
Old Man Coyote stopped eating long enough to grin at her.
Thief,
Snake,
Coward,
Snarled Reddy.
Once more,
Old Man Coyote grinned.
When that dinner had disappeared down his throat to the last and smallest crumb,
He licked his chops and turned to Granny and Reddy.
I'm very much obliged for that dinner,
He said pleasantly,
His eyes twinkling with mischief.
It was the best dinner I've had for a long time.
Allow me to say that that trick of yours was as smart a trick as I have ever seen.
Why,
It was quite worthy of a coyote.
You are a very clever old lady,
Granny Fox.
Now,
I hear someone coming and I would suggest that it would be better for all of us if we are not seen to be here.
He darted off behind the barn like a gray streak and Granny and Reddy followed,
For it was true that someone was coming.
You see,
Bowser the Hound had discovered that something was going on around the corner of the shed and he made such a loud racket that Mrs.
Brown had come out of the house to see what it was all about.
By the time she got around there,
All she saw was the empty pan which had held Bowser's dinner.
Hmm,
She was puzzled.
How had that pan gotten to where it was?
Well,
She just couldn't understand it and of course Bowser couldn't tell her,
Although he tried his very best.
She had been puzzled about that pan a time or two before.
Old Man Coyote lost no time in getting back home for he never felt easy near the home of man in broad daylight.
Granny and Reddy Fox went home too and there was sadness in their hearts.
They did not like Old Man Coyote,
But once they reached home,
Old Granny Fox stopped growling and presently she began to chuckle.
What are you laughing at?
Demanded Reddy.
That's the way Old Man Coyote stole that dinner from us,
Replied Granny.
I don't like him.
He's a sneaking robber,
Snapped Reddy.
Oh,
Tut-tut,
Reddy.
Be fair-minded.
We stole that dinner from Bowser and Old Man Coyote stole it from us.
I guess he is no worse than we are when you come to think it over.
Now,
Is he?
Well,
I don't suppose he is when you put it that way,
Reddy admitted.
And he was smart,
Very smart.
To outwit two such clever foxes as we are,
Continued Granny.
You will have to agree to that.
Yes,
Said Reddy.
He was smart enough,
But.
.
.
No,
There isn't any but,
Reddy,
Interrupted Granny.
You know the law of the green meadows and the green forest.
It is everybody for himself.
And anything belongs to one who has the wit or the strength to take it.
We had the wit to take that dinner from Bowser.
And Old Man Coyote had the wit to take it from us and the strength to keep it.
It was all fair enough.
And you know there isn't the least use in crying over spilled milk,
As the saying goes.
We simply have got to be smart enough not to let him fool us again.
I guess we won't be getting any more of Bowser's dinners for a while.
We've got to think of some other way of filling our stomachs when the hunting is poor.
I think if I could have just one of those fat hens of Farmer Brown's,
It would put new strength into my old bones.
All summer I warned you to keep away from that hen yard.
But the time has come now when I think we might try for a couple of those hens.
Reddy pricked up his ears at the mention of fat hens.
Oh I think so too,
He said.
When shall we try for one,
Granny?
Tomorrow morning,
Replied Granny.
Now don't bother me while I think out a plan.
Oh Granny,
She's so good at coming up with plans.
So snuggle down into those blankets and have yourself a wonderful sleep.
And come back very soon for Chapter 22.
This is Jackie sending you so many hugs.
Good night now.
