A Fox’s Tale

By Joshua Fox

Susan Felin, Debbye Squirrel, Cindy Lapine, Clarence Skunk, Chris Foxx, Rodney Lapine and Wanda the Vixen are copyright Chris Yost. Zig Zag and Max the Black Rabbit are copyright Max Black Rabbit. Sabrina Mustelidae, Tammy Vixen, Sheila Vixen, Tor the Dog and Amy Squirrel are copyright Eric W. Schwartz. Lillian Batholomew, James Sheppard, Rhonda Badger and Tamara Rabbit are copyright James Bruner. Marvin Badger is copyright James Bruner after a description by Chris Yost. Robert Fale, John Anderson, Veronica Salese, Melanie Turres, Joshua Fox, Jim Leard, Ralph Dix, Shawna Coon, Kris Coon, Wilde Cat, Aaron Cole, Victoria Maine and Tara Nadine are copyright Joshua Fox. Blue Wolfe, Kyrin Cat, Metal-Head and Kittiara Seng are copyright themselves. Tyler Leone is copyright Mike Mullig. Thomas Woolfe is copyright Mike Higgs. Rava Purr is copyright her player.

Legal Notice: This story is copyright 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 by Joshua Fox. This story may not be sold or used for commercial profit in any form or fashion. This story may not be modified in any way. This story may not be posted on a mirror site or any internet site without the written permission of the author. This story may not be distributed on print, magnetic, electrical or optical mediums.

Permission to use characters that are copyright to other individuals was obtained prior to the appearance of said characters.

This is an independent work of fiction with no connection whatsoever to any other stories or works by anyone else and does not imply any connection to the above-named sources. As far as these sources are concerned, this story doesn’t exist. They disavow any knowledge and do not officially sanction the events in this story.

 

Dedicated to the Memory of Bob Hope and Barry White, Two of the Greatest Entertainers that ever lived.

"You shall be missed, but not forgotten."

 

Chapter 16 – Admit It, You Saw This Coming

 

 

Oh, man! I can’t be late! I can’t be late! I can’t be late! Josh repeated the mantra in his head over and over again as he impatiently waited for the light to turn, his palms patting the steering wheel in anxious anticipation. CHANGE, you freaking light!

After what seemed like an eternity of torturous waiting the light’s red hue was finally replaced with a bright green one and in no time at all Josh was back on his course. He would not disappoint Susan for something as idiotic as forgetting what day it was. No way.

 

 

###

 

 

"Well? How do I look?"

The two Clique members turned to see Susan emerge from the bathroom, all set and ready for her date.

Her silken oriental dress shined a pleasant aqua, accentuated by the gold-colored patterns dotting the fabric’s surface. Standing as she was, the cuts that ran up the sides of the long skirt were particularly flattering, showing off her taut, tawny legs as he tail swished slowly to and fro behind her. The chopsticks in her hairfur held the bun in place on the back of her head, the golden hair holding up quite well despite its length. And to cap it all off she held between her paws the dainty purse she’d purchased, resting it against her tummy as she stood and posed awaiting her friends’ approval.

"Suse! It’s beautiful!" Debbye replied most emphatically with a light clap of her hands. "It all goes together perfectly!"

"I’ll second that," Cindy agreed with the sides of her mouth turned up sharply. "I suppose even he’ll be able to appreciate good fashion sense."

"Oh, come off it, Cin," Debbye scoffed as she shot the bunny a knowing look. "You’re just jealous cause’ she’s going out with the guy you were practically drooling over."

"I’m more than happy with Clare, thank you very much," Cindy reminded as the slightest hint of a smirk came to her muzzle. "Besides, I seem to recall some drool dripping down your chin that day."

"I wasn’t drooling," Debbye meekly protested, unable to suppress the faint red hue showing beneath her cheek fur. "It was good ice cream, that’s all."

"While I’m glad both of you are so interested in my date," Susan interjected as she took a few steps toward them, smiling smugly. "But I’m afraid he’s all mine."

"Leaving me as the only one without a boyfriend," Debbye sighed longingly, folding her arms as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"Aw, don’t feel down, Deb," Cindy smiled more pleasantly now as she sat down next to the squirrel, putting an arm around her shoulders. "If Susan can find one decent guy out of the hordes of idiots she’s dated, you should find a great guy in no time."

"I don’t know if I agree with that entirely," Susan arched an eyebrow menacingly as she fixed herself in the mirror of her vanity, making the last pre-date checks before heading out. "But yeah, she’s right."

"Really?" Debbye asked as she looked up, seeing the well-prepared lioness turn and lean over to her.

"Really," Susan smiled as she layed her paw on Debbye’s shoulder. "It’s like I said before, it could happen anytime. Next week, tomorrow, maybe even today if you hurry."

Debbye smiled as she caught the wink from her feline friend, that little bit of assurance making worlds of difference to her.

"So when’s he supposed to get here?" Cindy queried after about a moment’s silence.

"Seven," Susan absent-mindedly answered just before turning to see the clock radio on her nightstand. "Oh! He’ll be here any minute!"

"You don’t mind if we hang around to see you off, do you?" Cindy smiled again, amused to see her experienced friend actually flustered over a date.

"Of course not," Susan readily replied, quickly putting in her earrings. "You’re not going to follow me, are you?"

"Do you want us for backup in case his friends tag along again?" Debbye giggled as she recalled what Susan had told them of the mysterious duo’s escapades.

"I don’t think that’ll be necessary," Susan giggled along, placing two digits to her muzzle. "Maybe if I’m lucky I’ll even get to meet them."

"If," Cindy repeated for emphasis.

"Where are you two going?" Susan continued as she smoothed out the skirt, taking care to get those invisible wrinkles.

"Oh, I’ve got some ‘study time’ with Clare tonight," Cindy responded with something of a feral grin, her own intentions easily showing through.

"And I’ll just be heading over to the mall to unwind a bit," Debbye added after a sigh.

"Well try and be by the phone tonight if you can," Susan ordered with a confident grin. "Cause’ when I get that kiss, you’re gonna be hearing about it."

 

 

###

 

 

Oh, man! I can’t be late! I can’t be late! I can’t be late! Josh’s mantra replayed over and over even as he turned the corner of Susan’s apartment building.

Stopping in the same parking space he’d taken on their first date, his eyes immediately focused on the car radio’s clock.

6:59

Hey… I’m not late… Josh thought as he finally allowed himself to relax, a huge sigh of relief escaping him upon his moment of realization.

With that off his mind he was back to being his mellow self once more. After picking up the twin presents he’d brought along for Susan, he closed the car door and began walking over to the front door of Susan’s apartment, humming a happy tune. Indeed he could just as well had been whistling… if he were able to whistle, of course.

Padding quickly he soon found himself at the feline’s doorstep, leaning forward and ringing the doorbell much as he had on his first visit to the building. His arms then went once more behind his back, smiling pleasantly as he waited for her to answer.

It took a scant few seconds for the door to begin to open, Susan’s smile growing as she saw her suitor standing there.

"Right on time again, I see," She kidded as she opened it all the way, standing in the doorway with both paws clasping her dainty purse.

"Hey, Su…" Josh’s greeting immediately trailed off when he saw her. It was a replay of their first date all over again. Before him stood the lovely lioness in a lovely dress, matching purse and earrings topping it off to make her all the more pleasing to his eyes. To him, she was quite literally stunning.

Susan of course did nothing to discourage it. She posed showing more leg then she had for the girls a moment before, actually hoping to illicit the reaction, especially after having enjoyed it so much the first time her strapping fox had come to call. She’d had more than her fair share of guys fawn over her in the past, but there was something different about Josh’s reaction, something about it that made her feel special.

"Wow…" was all Josh could say after a protracted silence, his eyes having taken the whole of her in since they fell upon her.

Even Susan couldn’t help blushing at such a simple yet laudatory compliment.

"Flattering me already?" Susan teased as she tried to suppress the red hue in her cheeks.

"Oh! Uh, sorry," Josh replied with some embarrassment of his own. "I did it again, didn’t I?"

"Yes, but there’s no need to apologize for it," Susan reassured him with that warm but slightly feral smile of hers. "I actually like it when you do that."

"Really?" Josh queried as he looked up now, the elevated doorway actually putting them much closer to eye-level then they usually were. "Well… I’d happily oblige you further, Ms. Felin, but we do have a movie to catch."

"True enough," Susan admitted with a giggle as she peered around his broad vulpine shoulders. "Why are your arms behind your back? Hoping I’ll tie you up?" She questioned, her feral smile widening just a little.

That was one of those rare instances where Josh just simply had to laugh out loud.

"No, no. Just have a little something for you," Josh explained as his arms came out from behind him, both paws delicately holding a medium-sized box of chocolates.

"Ooh, chocolates this time," Susan teased as she took them just as delicately from him and turned, holding her purse under her arm as she placed it on the hall table near the door. "This mean we’re getting serious?"

"Heh, I just figured since this is our second date and all… I might give you something different," Josh rubbed the back of his neck with an unsure look on his face.

"Sort of a reward for going out with you again," Susan continued on amusedly, properly enjoying her teasing of the muscular fox. "Do these rewards get better over time?"

"Maybe," Josh replied with a slight tease of his own, not aware that Susan was only half-kidding.

"Goody," Susan grinned as she turned around and shouted down the hallway. "You hear that, Cin? You can stop worrying!"

"Huh?" Josh looked quizzically past his companion for the evening to see a familiar bunny and squirrel poking their heads out from a side room, giggling profusely at their discovery.

"There’s nothing wrong with being sure!" Cindy called back from her newly revealed hiding place, neither she nor Debbye making any kind of effort to conceal themselves.

"Hi there, Debbye!" Josh smiled and gave a wave to the redheaded squirrel, then turned to her tawny compatriot. "Cindy, right?"

"Hey you got our names right," Debbye replied jokingly, recalling how poor Josh said he was with that.

"Of course. Never could I forget a pair of ladies with which I enjoyed such a pleasant conversation," Josh replied in his most foppish and cultured sounding voice, even giving a bow to finish.

This brought a distinct smile even to Cindy’s lips.

"Well, he’s charming, I’ll give you that," Cindy admitted through a grin, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Don’t I know it," She smiled over towards the girls. Catching Cindy's smile she rolled her eyes.

"Time to go, Josh," Susan abruptly declared as she took his arm and began pulling him out towards the street, looking back at her friends with a wink. "Let’s get you out of here before I have to fight them off."

"Ok, ok. See you two around!" Josh yelled and waved back at them before he and Susan briskly walked off towards the car, arm-in-arm.

The remaining two members of the Clique then went to the doorway to see them get into Josh’s car and drive off, both grinning broadly and waving at the happy couple as they turned at the end of the street to head towards the movie theater. After a moment they turned about and closed the door, each leaning back against it.

"Gaaaaaaay," Cindy said simply, not losing her grin for a second.

 

 

###

 

 

Eight-fifteen. Rob thought to himself as he checked his watch. Better get in there and scope the place out.

Rob had been sitting in his car for about ten minutes now, mouthing the words along to the radio. The Szechuan Palace was about as crowded as he’d expected it to be for a Saturday night, but fortunately the expansive parking lot was more than enough to handle the rush.

The plan was simple enough. Arrive early, before Josh and Susan, meet up with Blue and get a table where they could observe without drawing attention to themselves. Admittedly they hadn’t been overly successful last time around, but this time they would be incognito. Rob knew that Blue wouldn’t have much difficulty securing a worthy disguise, but he himself wasn’t exactly experienced with this sort of thing. As such, he had asked a friend of his who occasionally worked as a movie wardrobe assistant to find something suitable. The big, black dry cleaning bag that contained said items lay on the seat next to the devious ferret. He hadn’t yet opened it, but he knew the guy to do good work and had faith that whatever had been selected would do just the trick.

Alrighty, Reg, let’s see what you got for me. Rob thought as he carefully ripped open the top of the bag, taking a peek inside.

Upon doing so he just sat and stared there for a few moments, expressionless, as he surveyed the bag’s contents.

"What the…?"

 

 

###

 

 

"You ok?"

"Hmm?" Tammy shook her head and looked up from her Chicken Tikka.

"I asked if you’re ok," Eric reiterated with a slight hint of concern. "You’ve been kind of spacey tonight."

"Oh, I’m fine, really," Tammy assured him with a smile, taking another forkful of the dish. "Just kind of distracted, sorry."

"It’s fine. I know I’m not the most enthralling of conversationalists," Eric responded kiddingly before taking a sip of his soda.

"No, it’s not that," Tammy sighed as she sat back in her chair. "Remember I told you I’m staying with Josh while I’m in town?"

"Yup. Can’t say I find that overly shocking," Eric stated casually, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

"Well Sheila called last night and told me she’s dropping by to surprise him," Tammy let out with a slight huff, propping up her chin with the palm of her paw.

"Heh heh, good news for him. Hope that bed can take the stress," Eric winked and raised his glass as a form of toast.

"That’s not really the problem," Tammy explained, taking on a slightly more serious expression. "Josh still doesn’t know Sheila’s got a thing for him."

"Oh…" Eric responded as his lips pursed, even wincing slightly at that bit of news. "That’s definitely not good."

"Nope," Tammy sighed again, nodding her head slowly in her paw.

"Geez, what’s it been? Like three years?" Eric mentally calculated in his head. "And he still doesn’t get it? What’s she gotta do, jump him?"

"I think that might actually be her plan this time around," Tammy smiled wryly as she lifted her head up.

"Guess he’s in for the shock of his life," Eric grinned at the thought, mentally collecting a few ideas for his next portfolio.

"Not if I have anything to say about it," Tammy stated firmly as she took another bite of chicken. "I have to at least warn Josh before he finds himself being pounced."

"Well, when’s she coming in?" Eric questioned with a gesture of his paw.

"Tomorrow night, she said," Tammy answered as she relaxed a little bit. "I’m just glad she didn’t do something silly like try and surprise him."

 

 

###

 

 

"CAN I PLEASE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PASSENGERS, WE ARE CURRENTLY BEGINNING OUR DESCENT INTO COLOMBUS AIRPORT. PLEASE FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS AND PREPARE FOR LANDING."

Sheila grinned mischievously as she heard the announcement over the plane’s loudspeaker, an almost feral demeanor about her as just one thought now occupied her mind.

"Surprise, Foxy."

 

End of Chapter 16