Читать книгу The young fox, who raps - Rosemary Bloom - Страница 4

The one who laughs last laughs best

On coming home, I decide to ask my mum about a chance to become a butterfly one day.

‘Could I ever be a butterfly, Mum?’ Mother shakes her head. ‘Even if I try hard?’

‘I’m sorry, Fred, I don’t think so.’

‘It’s not fair!’ I say and frown.

‘Why do you want that?’

‘Well, they fly everywhere and eat sweet pollen…’ I say dreamily.

‘Would you like to feed on pollen?’ Mother seems puzzled.

‘I’m not sure, but if I turned into a butterfly…’ It appears we aren’t alone. My sister and brother are eavesdropping as usual.

‘One, two, three! Freddy, look at me!’ Fiona turns around and waves her tail as if casting a spell. ‘Orange, red and blue – your dream has come true! Now you are a beautiful butterfly!’

‘Fancy to practice flying now?’ Flynn asks, nudging me with his nose.

‘That’s enough, children! Time for dinner!’ Mother says.

‘Don’t bother feeding Fred, Mum, butterflies don’t eat meat!’ my sister exclaims.

‘Yep! I’ll eat up his share with pleasure!’ my brother adds.

‘Fiona, Flynn, please stop it!’ Mother orders. ‘What will Father say?’

He comes soon and it seems they will stop laughing at me at once, but I am mistaken.

‘Are my red fluffies doing well?’ Father asks.

Fiona gives a wink to Flynn and says, ‘Two of us are great, Dad, but Fred…’

‘What’s up, son?’ he asks, turning to me. ‘And stop laughing, please, I’m tired and want some rest.’ It is clear they won’t. How could they miss a chance to mock me and have fun?

‘Daddy, Fred is leaving us!’ Fiona says tragically.

‘Nonsense!’ Father says wearily. ‘Speak, Freddy, and you two – keep silence!’

‘Well, Dad,’ I start, my eyes sting treacherously. ‘They’ve overheard me telling mum about my dream… to become a butterfly!’

‘See, Daddy, I am right, he is flying aw-a-a-y!’

‘I want to hug you goodbye, bro!’ Flynn says, approaching me.

‘You make me lose my patience, kids! Stop behaving like that or you both aren’t going out tomorrow! Understood?’ It is clear Dad isn’t joking.

‘Yes, Father,’ brother says earnestly. My sister nods and shows, that her mouth is sealed.

I bet you think my siblings have kept their word and stopped teasing me. ‘Ha-ha’ three times! When our parents have fallen asleep, and I toss and turn from side to side, Fiona comes up with new fun. She slips out, finds two maple leaves and performance begins. She dances, waving the leaves like butterflies flap their wings. Flynn grips his mouth so as not to laugh. I make an angry face and show him a fist. It amuses him even more and he starts giggling.

‘Tomorrow you stay at home all day. And no dessert!’ Father says quietly but firmly.

‘It serves you right!’ I sigh happily. ‘I won’t stay in with you, even if you plead me a hundred times! I’ll visit my new friend instead,’ I say to myself and finally fall asleep, thinking about wild strawberries mum gives us for dessert.

Laugh at me or not,

I don’t care at all!

I will become a butterfly

Either big or small!

Giggle, gossip, yell, ‘You’re mad!’

Stomping on the floor,

I will eat sweet pollen,

And soon will fly and soar!