Jacky, a cool fox.
Mary could hardly breathe. She was not able to catch up with her classmates again. They were strong and were jogging really fast. Emily loved teasing her about her physical weakness. Right now, she turned around and smiled wickedly at Mary. Mary stopped jogging. She was out of breath. Mrs. Johnson, a PE teacher, came up to Mary and said sadly:
- Mary, I will have to give you a bad grade today. I told you two weeks ago that you had to train harder to be able to compete with girls from your class. You didn’t pay attention to my words! Now face the music!
- But, Mrs. Johnson, I was trying really hard!
- Shame upon you! - said the teacher and it seemed to Mary she was also keen on teasing her. Mrs. Johnson kept criticizing her for her lack of physical prowess and attending PE classes has become a torture for Mary.
That day Emily was suspiciously nice. She came up to Mary and smiled at her in her strange manner:
- Dear Mary, we would love to invite you to join us on a cycling tour in Shephard Woods Park. Jessica, Lily and myself want to go for a ride tomorrow and you are welcome to join our small cycling club!
- Thank you, Emily, I would be happy to join! When are you planning to start?
- We haven’t decided yet, but I will let you know in no time!
Mary has moved in the neighborhood with her Mom recently and she wanted to become friends with her new classmates, but they seemed a little arrogant to her. Emily’s invitation pleasantly surprised her! They actually wanted her to become their friend! They wanted her to join their small cycling club! She will become as strong and athletic as the girls!
Little did she know what surprise was waiting for her in the park! They started early. Mary tried hard to cycle as fast as the girls, but soon felt she was not able to catch up with them. They were cycling extremely fast and always turning their heads around as if to check if Mary was still there, cycling behind them. Once, when Mary caught Emily’s glance, Mary got really scared. Emily’s eyes were cold and wicked. They were heading deep into Shephard Woods Park. Mary soon felt her legs were not obeying her will and she wanted to shout and tell the girls to stop for some rest but then felt ashamed of herself. She didn’t want to show the girls her physical weakness! Suddenly they followed some narrow cycle path and disappeared in the bushes! Mary was not able to see them anywhere. She got so scared she couldn’t even cry for help. She didn’t know the park and she realized she would not be able to find the way back home herself. She heard Emily’s distant laughter. Mary shouted for help. The girls were somewhere close by but then Mary realized that they just wanted to make fun of her. She realized they we hiding somewhere in the bushes enjoying observing poor Mary’s helplessness. She felt so lonely and abandoned! Mary closed her eyes and started singing her favorite song “What does the fox say?”. This song used to calm her down when she was stressed out.
- Nice song! -she heard someone saying – I really should learn the words!
Mary opened her eyes and saw a big fox, smiling at her. The fox looked a little bit strange. It was wearing torn jeans and was actually on a bicycle with very fat wheels!
- Am I asleep? – thought Mary. – Are you a real fox? - she asked the strange creature, - Or is this some king of theatrical performance? -asked Mary
- I am a real fox. My name is Jacky, a cool fox, are you crying, girl?
- I am not, said Mary. She didn’t want to admit she was distressed and wiped tears away with her hand.
- What are you doing here, girl? What is your name?
- My name is Mary and I lost my friends. They cycled away into the woods.
- Oh, dear. Can I help you out?
- I don’t know, - said Mary. I really want to go home to my Mom,-said Mary and burst into tears.
- Don’t cry, Mary, -said the fox and his voice seemed kind and pacifying to Mary. I will show you they way back and you will sing this beautiful song about foxes for me again!
- But animals can’t talk like humans and they can’t ride bicycles! - exclaimed Mary. You must be a liar and also keen on teasing me!
- Look at me. Touch my fur! I am as real as you are Mary, and would really love to help you!
Jacky, a cool fox, as he called himself, said he didn’t really liked her bicycle.
- You need a more powerful bike! It will be my present to you!
She went with Jacky. She actually wasn’t afraid of him. He was a really kind fox and he presented her with a bicycle with fat wheels.
- We compete with squirrels here in the park. Squirrels can run really fast, but when I listen to our foxy music I can do wonderful things, - said Jacky. Have you got a smart phone?
- Yes, -said Mary.
- Okey, I will send you a link. Listen to our foxy songs and you will always be a winner!
Mary got a message on her smartphone soon enough for her to realize that Jacky actually became her new friend and they have already exchanged their phone numbers. How could a fox have a smart phone! But Mary realized that Jacky was not an animal for her. He was her real friend. He showed her the way back home and Mary really enjoyed riding her new bicycle. It was so easy to ride it, while listening to lively foxy songs! She started coming to the park on a regular basis and Jacky invited her to join A Foxy Cycle Club. Mary accepted the invitation with eagerness. Soon she was cycling merrily in the park accompanied by a group of friendly foxes! And she really enjoyed listening to foxy songs. Jack admitted he was the one who composed the energetic music and was eager to share his love of music with his mates. At school Mary started enjoying PE classes. Her grades in Physical Education improved dramatically and it was due to the fact that she became a keen cyclist. Jacky loved cycling with Mary because she lifted his spirits and Mary realized that in her heart of hearts she was a merry fox!