BYBY

HOLLY PECK &HOLLY PECK &

ETHAN DERRICK!ETHAN DERRICK!

Chapter oneChapter one

The storm clouds had long The storm clouds had long since disappeared into a since disappeared into a brilliantly hot day. It had brilliantly hot day. It had been a long day since the been a long day since the school bell had rung, school bell had rung, suddenly the sound of suddenly the sound of screaming and laughing screaming and laughing filled the air. Lagging filled the air. Lagging behind, was a small boy behind, was a small boy that went by the name of that went by the name of Joe. He wasn’t chattering Joe. He wasn’t chattering away with the other away with the other children, about what he children, about what he was going to do that was going to do that weekend, his thoughts weekend, his thoughts

were filled with the injured fox cub were filled with the injured fox cub he had found earlier that week.he had found earlier that week.

,CHAPTER TWO,CHAPTER TWOOnce he got home , and had Once he got home , and had

slung a bag full of hard biscuits slung a bag full of hard biscuits and ripe oranges over his and ripe oranges over his shoulder, his Dad yelled from shoulder, his Dad yelled from the bathroom the bathroom

““Where do you think you are Where do you think you are going off to in such a hurry?”going off to in such a hurry?”

““Just off to the park Dad , don’t Just off to the park Dad , don’t worry , I’ll be back before worry , I’ll be back before dark!” Joe yelled back. And dark!” Joe yelled back. And with that parting shot he with that parting shot he disappeared out of the only disappeared out of the only entrance to the flat. entrance to the flat.

CHAPTER THREECHAPTER THREEAs Joe crossed the street to As Joe crossed the street to

the shortcut to the park the shortcut to the park (that only he knew about ) (that only he knew about ) he heard a bark and then he heard a bark and then suddenly a small and suddenly a small and furry reddish brown fox furry reddish brown fox came out of the came out of the undergrowth . Intrigued undergrowth . Intrigued Joe followed . Joe followed . Surprisingly the fox led Surprisingly the fox led him to the park, exactly him to the park, exactly where he had been where he had been heading in the first place, heading in the first place,

but the fox didn’t stop there, but the fox didn’t stop there, it went through a hole in it went through a hole in the hedge and Joe found the hedge and Joe found himself in a sort of den. himself in a sort of den. With a jolt , he recognised With a jolt , he recognised the fox hole he had the fox hole he had found earlier that week. found earlier that week. He then noticed the fox He then noticed the fox he had called Roxy , he had called Roxy , limping. Joe felt sorry for limping. Joe felt sorry for the creature , knowing full the creature , knowing full well that Roxy would not well that Roxy would not

cope as well as the others. In that cope as well as the others. In that split second he had made a split second he had made a decision, he would take Roxy decision, he would take Roxy home.home.

CHAPTER FOURCHAPTER FOUROnce he got back to the flat however Once he got back to the flat however

it was a different matter.” Get that it was a different matter.” Get that fox out of here!” Joe’s Dad yelled fox out of here!” Joe’s Dad yelled his shoulders were rising in his shoulders were rising in tension now. “Why?” asked Joe , tension now. “Why?” asked Joe , clearly baffled. ”Because it’s a clearly baffled. ”Because it’s a damn nuisance that’s why! “We’ll damn nuisance that’s why! “We’ll have the pest control here in five have the pest control here in five minutes!” Joe’s Dad was frantic minutes!” Joe’s Dad was frantic now, ’’just do it’’ he screamed. now, ’’just do it’’ he screamed. “No’’ Joe was firm now “I won’t do “No’’ Joe was firm now “I won’t do it no I won’t!” “Alright “,his dad it no I won’t!” “Alright “,his dad gave in, . As long as you keep gave in, . As long as you keep

him under control” .him under control” .

““I will”, Joe was relieved . At that moment they both I will”, Joe was relieved . At that moment they both heard a heart throbbing knock on their shiny red heard a heart throbbing knock on their shiny red door. Joe rushed to open it . Angry cries of “kill door. Joe rushed to open it . Angry cries of “kill the fox and get rid of the fox!” filled the air. Joe the fox and get rid of the fox!” filled the air. Joe quickly slammed the door in their faces and leant quickly slammed the door in their faces and leant panting heavily against it. After about ten minutes panting heavily against it. After about ten minutes Joe raised his eye slowly. “Joe” his Dad said “that Joe raised his eye slowly. “Joe” his Dad said “that fox has GOT TO GO!” “But dad”, Joe protested fox has GOT TO GO!” “But dad”, Joe protested “can’t you have a word with them?” “Alright” his “can’t you have a word with them?” “Alright” his Dad relented ,”but I’m not looking forward to it .” Dad relented ,”but I’m not looking forward to it .”

CHAPTER FIVECHAPTER FIVE

The café was hot, smelly and full of rats. All of the The café was hot, smelly and full of rats. All of the people in the flat had turned up to discuss the people in the flat had turned up to discuss the matter of the fox in Joe’s floor. “I say we send it matter of the fox in Joe’s floor. “I say we send it to the zoo” decided Mr. chase , the head of the to the zoo” decided Mr. chase , the head of the protesters. “No I say we kill her” decided protesters. “No I say we kill her” decided another. “ No I say we do it my way!” “No do it another. “ No I say we do it my way!” “No do it mine!” Just then Joe ran in. “No you can’t! Let mine!” Just then Joe ran in. “No you can’t! Let me decide!” he begged . “The kid’s right ,” me decide!” he begged . “The kid’s right ,” agreed Mr. chase, “if we try to sort it out agreed Mr. chase, “if we try to sort it out ourselves we will just get into a fight. We should ourselves we will just get into a fight. We should let him decide.” “Thank you I won’t let you let him decide.” “Thank you I won’t let you down!” down!”

CHAPTER SIXCHAPTER SIX

Once he got back to the flat , he started dwelling Once he got back to the flat , he started dwelling on the problem. Shall I set him free or not? he on the problem. Shall I set him free or not? he wondered .”It’s time for bed!” his dad yelled from wondered .”It’s time for bed!” his dad yelled from the kitchen. Ah well thought Joe I’ll leave it till the kitchen. Ah well thought Joe I’ll leave it till tomorrow.tomorrow.

CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER SEVEN The next day he asked , his dad about the matter The next day he asked , his dad about the matter

while he was having breakfast.while he was having breakfast.““Dad what should I do about Roxy?” Joe asked “I Dad what should I do about Roxy?” Joe asked “I

don’t know do I ?” his Dad snapped .His voice don’t know do I ?” his Dad snapped .His voice softened “Look Joe I have no idea about what softened “Look Joe I have no idea about what you should do ,as Joe started to protest he cut you should do ,as Joe started to protest he cut

Over him “but”, he continued , “I do have one Over him “but”, he continued , “I do have one piece of advice , and it is this , follow your piece of advice , and it is this , follow your heart . I hope you think about that advice”. heart . I hope you think about that advice”.

“ “ Thanks dad I now what to do now .”Joe Thanks dad I now what to do now .”Joe exclaimed! He gave his dad a quick hug and exclaimed! He gave his dad a quick hug and dashed out of the door.dashed out of the door.

CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER EIGHT Once Joe had called Roxy he set out to the Once Joe had called Roxy he set out to the

park. Once he got there however he started to park. Once he got there however he started to have misgivings about his decision , but it was to have misgivings about his decision , but it was to late too turn back. Joe peeked into the fox late too turn back. Joe peeked into the fox hole ,it was in habituated . “There you go pal into hole ,it was in habituated . “There you go pal into your home ”Joe whispered Roxy looked up at your home ”Joe whispered Roxy looked up at him reproaching she went into the fox hole as if him reproaching she went into the fox hole as if she was aware that he was seeing him for the she was aware that he was seeing him for the last time.last time.

CHAPTER NINECHAPTER NINEA few years later, when Joe was fifteen, heA few years later, when Joe was fifteen, he