Good evening.
Welcome to Dreamtime Stories with Jackie.
I'm so glad you're here.
Tonight we're going to read chapter 17 from Old Granny Fox.
When last we left her and Reddy,
Reddy had just brought her a fish and she was so excited because she had been so hungry.
So get those covers just the way you like them.
We're about to begin.
Chapter 17.
Granny Fox promises Reddy Bowser's dinner to give her children what each needs to get the most from life he can to work and play and live his best is wise old mother nature's plan.
Old Granny Fox.
When Old Granny Fox asked Reddy how he would like to eat a dinner of Bowser the Hounds,
Reddy looked at her sharply to see if she were joking or if she really meant what she said.
But Granny looked so sober and serious and so much in earnest that Reddy decided she couldn't be joking even though it did sound that way.
Oh,
I certainly would like it,
Granny.
Yes,
Indeed.
I certainly would like it.
You don't suppose he'll give us one of his dinners,
Do you?
Granny chuckled.
No,
Reddy.
Bowser isn't so generous as all of that,
Especially to foxes.
No,
He isn't going to give us that dinner.
We're going to take it away from him.
Yes,
Sir.
We are just naturally going to take it away from him.
Well,
Reddy didn't for the life of him see how it could be possible to take a dinner away from Bowser the Hound.
That seemed to him almost as impossible as it was for him to climb or fly or dive.
But he had great faith in Granny's cleverness.
He remembered how she had so nearly caught Quacker the Duck.
He knew that all the time he had been away trying to find something for them to eat,
Old Granny Fox had been doing more than just sitting there resting her tired old bones.
He knew that not for one single minute had her sharp wits been idle.
He knew that all that time she had been studying and studying to find some way by which they could get something to eat.
So great was his faith in Granny just then that if she had told him she would get him a slice of the moon,
He would have believed her.
If you say we can take a dinner away from Bowser the Hound,
I suppose we can,
Said Reddy,
Though I don't see how.
But if we can,
Let's do it right away.
I'm hungry enough to dare almost anything for the sake of something to put in my stomach.
It's so empty.
That little bit of fish that we divided is shaking around in there as if it were lost.
Gracious,
I could eat a million fish the size of that one,
Granny.
Have you thought of Farmer Brown's hens,
Though,
Granny?
Oh,
Of course,
Reddy,
Of course.
What a silly question.
We may have to come to them yet.
Oh,
I wish I was at them right now,
Interrupted Reddy with a sigh.
But you know what I've told you,
Went on Granny.
The surest way of getting into trouble is to steal those hens.
I'm not feeling quite up to being chased by Bowser the Hound right now.
And if we came right home,
We would give away our secret of where we live,
And we might be smoked out later.
And that would be the end of us.
Besides,
Those hens will be hard to get in this weather because they will stay in their house,
And there's no way for us to get in there unless we walk right in in broad daylight.
And that would never do.
It will be a great deal better to take Bowser's dinner away from him.
In the first place,
If we are careful,
No one but Bowser will know about it.
And as long as he is chained up,
We will have nothing to worry about from him.
Besides,
We will enjoy getting even with him for all those times he has spoiled our chances of catching a fat chicken,
And for the way he has hunted us.
Most decidedly,
It will be better and safer to try for Bowser's dinner than to try for one of those hens.
Just as you say,
Granny,
Just as you say,
Said Reddy.
You know best.
But how,
Under the sun,
Can we get Bowser's dinner?
It's very simple,
Replied Granny.
Very simple indeed.
Most things are simple enough when you find out how to do them.
Neither of us could do it alone,
But together we can do it without the least bit of risk.
Listen.
Granny went close to Reddy's ear and whispered to him,
Although there wasn't a soul around within hearing.
A slow grin spread over Reddy's face as he listened.
When she had finished,
He laughed right out loud.
Oh,
Granny,
You are a wonder,
He exclaimed admiringly.
I never should have thought of that.
Of course we can do it.
My,
Won't Bowser be surprised.
Oh,
And he'll be mad too.
Come on,
Let's get started.
All right,
Said Granny,
And the two started towards Farmer Brown's.
Thank you for listening tonight.
I hope you have wonderful dreams.
Come back soon for chapter 18.
I'm sending you so many hugs.
This is Jackie.
Good night.
