Rusty the Fox and the Basket of Plums

Rusty the fox wants to be the kindest creature in Thistledown Glen, but his father and grandfather were famous tricksters and the valley remembers.

Trust cannot be demanded. It has to be earned

In a green valley called Thistledown Glen, there lived a young fox named Rusty. He had a bushy red tail, bright amber eyes, and a reputation that arrived long before he did.

It wasn't entirely undeserved. Rusty's father, and his grandfather before him, had been famous tricksters. They had swapped signs on the market stalls, hidden the baker's rolling pin, and once convinced the whole village that the moon was made of cheese. Everyone in the glen had a story about a fox who had fooled them.

But Rusty was different. He didn't want to trick anyone. He wanted to be good.

"I'm going to be the kindest fox in Thistledown Glen," he told his mother one morning.

"Then you'll have to be patient," she said, tying a scarf around his neck. "Trust is slow to grow, especially when the soil has been trampled."

Rusty didn't quite understand. But he soon would.

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Quick answers about Rusty the Fox and the Basket of Plums

What is Rusty the Fox and the Basket of Plums about?

Rusty the fox wants to be the kindest creature in Thistledown Glen, but his father and grandfather were famous tricksters and the valley remembers.

Is Rusty the Fox and the Basket of Plums free to read?

Yes. Every story on RapidTale is free to read in the browser, with no sign-up and nothing to install.

How long does it take to read?

This story runs 1 chapter — most readers finish in one sitting, and you can stop and return to any chapter using the contents list.

Who wrote it?

Nimra Khan — original fiction published on RapidTale.