The Fox Who Borrowed the Dawn

Waiting for Morning

Fern Fox loved beginnings: the first bite of an apple, the first footprint in snow and the first page of a new book.

What Fern did not love was waiting for them.

On the night before the woodland picnic, Fern packed her basket, unpacked it, and packed it again. She stared east, where morning would appear.

“Come now,” she whispered to the dark.

High in the branches hung a single golden thread. Fern was sure it belonged to the dawn. She tugged it gently. A small piece came loose and wrapped around her paw, glowing like sunrise.

“I will borrow only enough to start the day,” Fern decided.

A Day Before Its Time

Fern carried the glow through the woods. Birds saw gold between the trees and began their morning songs. Squirrel rushed from bed and dropped three acorns. Rabbit put porridge on the stove before noticing that the moon was still up.

At the picnic field, Fern spread the blanket. Nobody came.

The golden thread made the grass look bright, but it did not warm the air. Flowers stayed closed. Bees remained asleep. Fern's shadow pointed the wrong way.

Old Tortoise arrived wearing a nightcap. “A little light can wake us,” he said, “but it cannot make us ready.”

Fern looked at the muddled woodland. Her exciting beginning had stolen the end of everyone's rest.

Giving Back the Gold

Fern climbed the eastern hill and held up the thread. “I am sorry,” she told the sky. “I wanted morning before morning was ready.”

The gold lifted from her paw and stretched across the horizon. This time it came slowly: grey, pearl, pink, then warm yellow. The birds sang in the proper order. Flowers opened. Rabbit's porridge finished bubbling.

Fern waited on the hill through every colour.

When the woodland picnic truly began, it felt better than the pretend beginning. Everyone had slept. The grass was warm. The bees had arrived to inspect the jam.

“Was waiting difficult?” asked Tortoise.

“Very,” said Fern. “But dawn was doing something while I waited.”

That evening Fern packed her basket for another adventure. Then she placed it by the door and climbed into bed.

Outside, tomorrow took all the time it needed.