Good evening.
Welcome to Dreamtime Stories with Jackie.
I am so glad you are here.
We are continuing the fabulous story of old Granny Fox and her little nephew,
Ready Fox.
Snuggle down in your bed.
Today we are going to read Chapter 16.
Remember in Chapter 15,
Ready had gone hunting and had brought back a fish to share with Granny.
What a good job.
So today,
Chapter 16,
Ready is made truly happy.
It's what you do for others,
Not what they do for you,
That makes you feel so happy all through and through and through,
Old Granny Fox.
Ready Fox ran all the way home from the big river just as fast as he could go.
In his mouth he carried that fish that he had found,
From which he had taken just two little bites.
You might remember he had a battle with himself over that fish,
And now he was running away from himself.
That sounds funny,
Doesn't it?
But it was true.
Yes,
Sir,
Ready Fox was running away from himself.
He was afraid that if he didn't get home to old Granny Fox with that fish very soon,
He would eat up every last bit of it himself.
So he was running his very hardest so as to get there before that could happen.
So really he was running away from himself,
From his selfish self.
Old Granny Fox was on the doorstep watching for him,
And he saw just how her hungry old eyes brightened when she saw him and what he had.
I brought you something to eat,
Granny,
He panted as he laid the fish at her feet.
He was quite out of breath with all that running.
It isn't much,
But it is something,
And it's all I could find for you.
Granny looked at that fish and then she looked sharply at Ready,
And into those keen yellow eyes of hers crept a soft,
Tender look,
Such a look as you would never have believed they could have held.
What have you had to eat?
Asked Granny softly.
Ready turned his head so that Granny might not see his face.
Oh,
I've had something,
He said,
Trying to speak lightly.
It was true.
He had had two little bites from that fish.
Now,
You know just how shrewd and smart and wise Old Granny Fox is.
Ready didn't fool her,
Not the least little bit.
She took two small bites from the fish.
Now,
She said,
We'll divide what's left,
And she bit it into two parts.
In a twinkling,
She had gulped down the smallest part,
For you know she was very,
Very hungry.
This is your share,
She said,
As she pushed what remained over to Ready Fox.
He tried to refuse it.
I brought it all for you,
He said.
I know you did,
Ready,
Replied Granny,
And it seemed to Ready that he never had known her voice to sound so gentle.
You brought it to me when all you had had was the two little bites you had taken from it.
You can't fool me,
Ready Fox.
There wasn't one good meal in that fish for either of us,
But there was enough to give us both a little hope and keep us from starving.
Now,
You mind what I say and eat your share,
Granny said this last part very sternly.
Ready looked at Granny,
And then he bolted down that little piece of fish without another word.
That's better.
We will both feel better.
Now that I have something in my stomach,
I feel years younger.
Before you came,
Oh,
I didn't feel as if I should ever be able to go on another hunt,
Ready.
If you hadn't brought me something,
I'm afraid I couldn't have lasted much longer.
By another day,
Oh well,
You probably wouldn't have to worry about old Granny.
You may not know it,
But I know that you saved my life,
Ready.
I had reached a point where I just had to have a little food.
You know,
There are times when a very little food is of more good than a lot of food could be later.
This was one of those times.
Never in all his life had Ready Fox felt so truly happy.
He was still hungry,
Very,
Very hungry,
But he gave it no thought.
He had saved Granny Fox,
Good old Granny,
Who had taught him all he knew,
And he knew that Granny knew how he had to fight with himself to do it.
Ready was very happy through and through with the great happiness that comes from having done something for someone else.
Oh,
It was nothing,
He muttered.
It was a very great big deal,
Replied Granny,
And then she changed the subject.
How would you like to eat a dinner of Bowser the Hounds,
She asked.
Oh,
That Granny,
I think she has something wildly up her sleeve.
So,
Settle down and get yourself ready,
Because it's time for sleep.
This is Jackie sending you a great big hug,
And come back soon for chapter 17.
Good night now.
