Rudy Fox was trotting down the dirt path that led from his forest home. His red coat still damp from his bath in the river glistened in the sun. He was on his way to visit his cousin Mary-Belle who lived in the Southern Countryside. Chatty Crow seeing Rudy left his look-out perch in the old Birch tree. He flew over Rudy circling several times before finding a limb of a tree just ahead of where Rudy was trotting; there he landed to wait for Rudy to pass by the tree.

“Say there Rudy, how’s it going?” Chatty called in a hoarse voice. “Do tell old friend, where are you going?”

“Hi Chatty, I’m going to visit my cousin Mary-Belle. She lives in the Southern Countryside.”

Chatty ruffled his sleek black feathers. Then in a low voice said, “I hear she climbs trees. Isn’t this kind of unusual for a fox?”

Rudy laughed. “Yes, Chatty, I can’t climb a tree. But Cousin Mary-Belle is a gray fox, and gray foxes can and do climb trees. Mary-Belle does it when she is frightened or just wants to grab a nap.”

“A tree-climbing fox! I declare!” Chatty squawked flapping his wings. “Mercy me!” He said flying into the sky, making a lazy circle. Chatty flew off to tell everyone. He was good at telling everyone any news he happened to learn about. And that is why he became know as Chatty.

Rudy smiled laughing to himself at the silly old crow’s surprise that some foxes can climb trees. He trotted faster as he thought about how much fun it was to visit Mary-Belle.

Rudy arrived at Mary-Belle’s home a little before noon. He looked all around for her, but could not find her anywhere. He sat down to wait under the shade of a huge Sycamore tree. Rudy thought Mary-Belle would be back soon.

Rudy waited nearly an hour. Then he barked out her name, “Mary-Belle!” When she didn’t answer he barked a little louder, “Mary-Belle, are you hiding? Are you playing a game?”

Rudy began searching through the tall meadow grass with its bright flowers of red, yellow, orange and pink. He walked all through the woods around her home looking behind every Sycamore and Hickory tree. Not finding her, he let out a loud worried yap, Mary-Belle, where are you? Are you all right?”