Snow White the Band Slinky the Fox Cub were good friends and often played together. However, two animals more different, it would be hard to find. Snow White was soft spoken and polite, while Slinky was loud and rude. His mother often feared that his rudeness would land him into trouble someday. One bright and sunny morning, the two friends were playing catch with a few acorns in a corner of the forest. They had completely forgotten that behind the gorse bushes, was the den of a tiger family.
Mama tiger, who was always on the lookout for fresh, young meat for her family, sniffed the air and said to her cubs,
‘Oh, this is just what we need,
Fresh, warm blood, tangy and sweet.
My darlings, a nice meal is here,
Let me get my hunting gear.’
Oblivious to this, the two friends kept throwing the acorns high in the sky. Suddenly an acorn hit Tuffy the tiger cub in the eye.
‘Ouch!’ he said, ‘what is this?’ As he ran to investigate, he saw Slinky running to get the acorn.
Tuffy said, his fur bristling with anger,
‘I am Tuffy the Tiger, small but strong,
I hunt and prey all day long.
I am wondering who does dare
To come and play near my lair.
I will catch you and tear you up,
And make a soup for when I sup.’
Now, Slinky was not very bright and he loved picking quarrels with everyone, so without thinking he replied,
‘I am Slinky, the fastest fox in town,
Upon such pride I strongly frown.
If you disturb me when I play,
I will not let you get away.’
‘Mother!’ shouted Tuffy, and out bounded the tigress to her son’s rescue. She looked big and fierce and Slinky shook in his shoes. He now wished he had not been so rude but it was too late for regret, so he turned and ran. The tigress followed him, and in a single leap she had caught him by the scruff of his neck and shook him soundly.
‘Come with me you rogue fox, let me teach you a lesson.’
Meanwhile, Snow White was watching the little scene from behind the bushes and knew that he would have to think fast to save his friend from becoming the tiger family’s lunch that day.
He came out from his hiding place, and with folded hands said meekly,
‘Oh! Tuffy the mighty tiger cub,
You are bigger and stronger than all of us.
It would be an honor to be your friend,
To play with you and serve your end.
Come, join our gang if you will
Spare my friend, please do not kill.’
Now, Tuffy was a very lonely tiger. Everyone was so scared of his mother gobbling them up for lunch that they never played with him. So he was extremely pleased at the rabbit’s offer. He told his mother,
‘Mama dear, Mama dear,
Let me play, don’t you fear.
I will be fine, we will have fun,
And will come back when the day is done.’
Mama Tiger relented on seeing her son so happy, and let Slinky go with a warning not to be a wise-guy anymore. Soon Tuffy, Slinky and Snow White became the best of friends. Slinky learnt to be more polite, Tuffy was friendlier and Snow White was no longer as meek as before.