Blue Fo(x)es

 Reading is one of my passions. Luckily, my parents encouraged it. Our childhood was full of books. Why, Papa had even got us the annual membership of the famous 'Reader's Digest'. 

One of my favourite reads then was, and even today is, Aesop's "Fables". In fact, as we grow older, we realise the subtleties of these succinct (ending with) moral stories. They are indeed like the kaleidoscope we used to make with the pieces of Aai's glass bangles. Change the angle just a little, and an absolutely new design emerges.

'The Blue Fox' is one such 'moral' story. Once a fox foraging food falls in to a trough filled with blue colour. Every inch he is true blue now. Being wily, shrewd and deceitful by nature, he decides to take advantage of the situation. He convinces every animal in the jungle that he is an altogether unique, special species. 

Having never seen such a creature ever, the straightforward animals are first beguiled totally. Lions to monkeys, all serve him devotedly. The wily fox loves this comfy life at others' expense. One full moon night, His  Lordship, the Fox, is relaxing. From afar hears he a skulk of foxes barking and screaming. Unable to control himself, he joins in. You can imagine what must have happened next.

What is the moral of the story? In my opinion, this small little story warns us that, in our lifetime, we are going to meet all sorts of and any number of blue foxes. As they are hyper manipulative, it is compulsory to learn the art of locating them, and still better, from afar. It IS very important that we do not allow the wily trickster to use us for her/his purpose.

There is an important message, I believe,  for the blue fo(x)es, too. Just because people are straightforward, better not take for granted that they are fools. They can see through all sorts of foxiness-es. Vixens are truly the ones to be guarded against. Vixens, however, must remember for their own good that none can fool all the people all the time!

Pratima@ Animals who inhabit the pages of story books are much less malevolent than those horrors walking on two legs, and sweet talking glibly!