Two Hundred and Twenty Tricks

Foxy the Fox and Quickfoot the Hedgehog became good friends. Wherever Quickfoot went, Foxy followed. Wherever Foxy went, Quickfoot followed. They went everywhere together. One day, Foxy said:

"Let's go to the vineyard, Hedgehog!"

"Let's go, Foxy. But what about the guard?"

"Oh, you! You're afraid of everything. I'm with you! I know two hundred and twenty tricks. And you, Hedgehog, do you know even one?"

"Only three, but they're reliable."

"Well, let's go then!" said Foxy.

They went. They arrived at the vineyard and started picking grapes.

"Wow, these are so sweet!" said Foxy. "Come on, Hedgehog, come on, brother! The farther you go, the sweeter the grapes!"

"They're sweet here too, Foxy!"

"Let's go, let's go further! Look how yellow they are over there! Wait, I’ll try the red ones too! Oh, the aroma, the aroma!"

Before Foxy could finish speaking—*click!*—she got caught in a trap.

"Oh, dear, what a disaster!" Foxy whined. "Please, Hedgehog! You're my brother, my sister! Suggest a trick!"

"What are you saying, Foxy? You expect a trick from me? You know two hundred and twenty of them. I only know three."

"Ah, I knew so many, Hedgehog! But as soon as the trap snapped shut, they all flew out of my head. Suggest at least one!"

"Alright," said the Hedgehog. "When the guard comes, act like a good girl. Start fawning over him, wag your tail. He’ll think you’re tame. He won’t kill you. Then you can run away. Well, goodbye! I'll wait for you in the forest."

The Hedgehog ran off. The guard arrived. He saw Foxy and said:

"Aha! I’ve caught you, Foxy."

But Foxy wagged her tail and started circling around him.

"Must be tame!" thought the guard.

He took Foxy to his house, tied her to a tree, and went back to patrol the vineyard.

Foxy gnawed through the rope and ran away. The next day, Foxy said to the Hedgehog again:

"Let's go, Hedgehog, for some grapes!"

"What about the trap, Foxy?"

"That’s nothing," said Foxy. "I’m not afraid of anything. And I remembered the tricks. Two hundred and twenty! Enough for me and for you. So let’s go!"

"Alright, let’s go!" said the Hedgehog.

They went. They arrived at the vineyard... As soon as they entered—*click!*—Foxy got caught in the trap again.

"Oh, Hedgehog, what a disaster! Please, suggest a trick!"

"How can I suggest one, Foxy? I only have two left. And you have two hundred and twenty."

"I forgot them again, brother. You’re my father, you’re my mother! Suggest another trick!"

The Hedgehog took pity. He said:

"When the guard comes, pretend to be dead. He’ll hit you, kick you, and toss you aside. Then run for it!"

The Hedgehog ran off. The guard arrived. He saw Foxy and said:

"Again, Foxy, you’ve been caught! Now I’ll teach you a lesson!"

He kicked her—she didn’t move. He hit her—she didn’t flinch.

"She’s dead," the guard decided and took Foxy to the village.

He came home and shouted:

"Come out, wife! I’ve brought you a fur for a coat!"

He left Foxy on the chopping block and went to get a knife to skin her. His wife came out to the yard. She looked here and there—no fur in sight. The guard came out too. He started sharpening his knife.

"What are you playing at, husband?" said the wife. "Where’s the fur?"

"On the chopping block!"

"It’s not there."

The guard looked. Foxy was gone!

"Ah, Foxy! She ran away again! Well, just wait, I’ll catch you yet!"

Not long after, Foxy said to the Hedgehog again:

"Let's go, Hedgehog, to the vineyard!"

"Eh, Foxy, do you have any sense or not? Have you forgotten about the trap?"

"That was ages ago! And I’ve kept the tricks. Enough for me. Enough for you too."

She convinced the Hedgehog. They went for the grapes. They saw that the vineyard was surrounded by a ditch.

Foxy jumped—and cleared it. The Hedgehog jumped and *splat!*—fell into the ditch.

"Please, Foxy, help me!" begged the Hedgehog. "Suggest a trick!"

"Eh, Hedgehog, I knew so many, but now, when I jumped, they all flew out of my head."

"If that’s the case, I’m done for!" said the Hedgehog. "My time is up! Let’s at least say goodbye, sister! Let’s kiss on the lips!"

Foxy leaned down to him. The Hedgehog pretended to kiss her but instead bit her lips. Foxy jerked—and pulled the Hedgehog out of the ditch. He held on tight and wouldn’t let go.

The guard appeared in the distance. Foxy took off running as fast as she could, dragging the Hedgehog with her.

They reached the forest. Only then did the Hedgehog let go and said:

"Goodbye, Foxy! I’ve figured out what you’re like. I don’t need your tricks. I only know three, but they’re reliable."

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Two Hundred and Twenty Tricks

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