New excerpt continues this Children's short story (see Prologue)
Chapter 1, Fire!
In his first breath of the Christmas season, the red fox, Joe, slowly recognized his surroundings. Then it all came back in a rush. Fire! The embers needed to be put out! How did it happen? Choked with smoke … What’s that loud alarm?
“Throw down the star!” he cried. “Throw the ornaments—hurry! Everybody jump!”
What else happened? The red fox didn’t know. If he could just have a moment to think. Maybe if he concentrated his very hardest, Joe could remember. The smell of smoke lingered in his nose.
Suddenly he felt ashamed. Was it all only a nightmare? Or a flashback?
Out of the corner of his eye, a black, charred, branch-like thing moved, making him start. He turned, and it moved again.
You can see the illustration I placed here when the book is released.
Joe and his frazzled tail.
“My tail? Is that my tail?” It was real! He could hear his heartbeat thumping in his ears. Joe was truly frightened. Where are the others? He scurried about frantically, looking for the rest of the Trust League.
Joe’s search ended deep in the branches of the new Christmas tree. “Is everyone all right?”
Edna responded, “Oh my! Yes. You? And … is that your tail? Does it hurt so very much?”
“I’m OK. It all happened so fast! I didn’t intend … But I am so deeply sorry,” the red fox said as he grabbed the end of his charred tail and held it close. “It’s all my fault. I let everyone down.” His ears turned down in a sad fashion. “I ruined last Christmas season. I failed the mission!” Joe choked back tears, looked at his boots, and grasped his tail tighter for comfort. Then he whispered under his breath, so quietly the others could barely hear, “What would Thomas have thought?” The red fox looked away. “I just need a minute.”
He turned and began to climb up the branches, needing some alone time.
Chapter 2
A Frazzled Tale
At the tippy-top of the fragrant fir, Joe reached up and, without a thought, adjusted the treetop star before sitting on the uppermost branch. He could contemplate in that spot. Just what did happen last Christmas? He sat with his elbows on his knees and his hands under his chin for a proper think.
What caused that fire?
Wait! He remembered. An ember! It fell out of the fireplace! That’s it! Joe remembered that he had to act swiftly, so he had half hopped, half tumbled down the tree and put out the ember with his tail. Right?
What then? Sweat formed on his brow. How did the fire come up the tree behind him? Oh no! It was his tail. His tail must’ve carried the spark!
Joe grabbed his tail and held it close. Now I remember. He wiped the sweat, which mixed with his tears, and sat, staring blankly.
The tree branch swayed beneath the unhappy fox. His ears alerted as Charley, the little round mouse, popped up and nestled in next to Joe. Even though Charley was small, perhaps he could imagine what Joe was going through because he, too, had a tail.
“Does it hurt a lot? Or even a little bit?” Charley asked as he pointed to Joe’s frazzled black tail.
“Not even the slightest! What does hurt … is me!” He patted his chest, and his ears twitched uncontrollably. “I ruined everything!” he blurted.
Charley was quiet at first and then straightened. He clutched his satchel and tapped Joe’s shoulder gently. Then he slowly pointed down the new Christmas tree. The red fox with the charred tail hadn’t noticed the tree was hung with the same globe ornaments as before the fire. He couldn’t believe his eyes and rubbed them for a clearer view.
You can see the illustration I placed here when the book is released.
Joe and Charley look down the tree.
They looked at each other for a long moment.
Charley smiled. “Not one globe ornament was burned,” he said. “Not one icicle was burned … and the four of us are all fine. Well except for your gnarly tail! You saved it all, Joe! You told us what to do.”
Joe was shaken. It took him a few seconds to understand what Charley had said. “I-I didn’t know!” He blinked—once, twice, as if to focus on the truth—and his ears stood straight up. “Wait! This is the same treetop star, the same great, beautiful, old star! How?” His voice cracked as relief poured through him.
Every year the human family placed a handsome, fragrant Christmas tree in the living room. With freshly focused eyes, Joe noticed this new tree had been positioned thoughtfully; it was farther from the fireplace than last year’s. This one was the distance of a youngling’s long jump rope away. He smiled.
“Shall we have our annual meeting now?” Charley asked. Joe nodded, and without another word, they climbed down the tree together.
This Children’s Book excerpt is pulled from Diana’s pre-published Christmas book. Subscribe for more of A Frazzled Christmas Tale. Hope you enjoy!
