Live and Learn

Every month, The Sun publishes an ad-free magazine loaded with black-and-white photographs, poems, and stories including a section called Reader’s Write, which features very short pieces submitted by the magazine’s readers in response to a theme. Last month’s theme was “T-Shirts,” for instance, March’s was “Chores.”

For the May 1^st submission, the theme was “Wildlife”. I submitted a story I called “A Foxy Tale.” It’s a little embarrassing, but funny all the same.

When we lived in rural Colorado, we’d often see the red fox who lived under the wall on the far side of the field next to our house. He’d stop short and stare at me, ready to take off if we were both outside at the same time. Once he knew he was safe, though, he’d trot along the wall away from me.

One spring morning, coming back from a long walk, I saw the fox out in the middle of the field. He seemed to be in distress. Turning in frantic circles as if he’d been hit by a car or caught in a trap. I was too far away to see what had happened, and too afraid to get any closer, so I ran home to get Brent. He grabbed the binoculars, and we went out on the porch to get a better look. As soon as the fox was in focus, Brent started to laugh. The fox was perfectly fine. We’d caught him in the act with a second fox. Stuck together like dogs in what I later learned is called a Copulatory Tie. Brent assured me they’d figure it out, and they did.