Once upon a time there was a Fox who lived in a vast forest with many animals. The Fox was very popular with the other forest animals who admired the reality and the animation of the Fox’s bushy tail with it’s little white tip.

“Your bushy white tip brightens up my evenings Mr. Fox”, the Owl would quip as he’d go out on his hunt. “Why thank you Mr. Owl”, the Fox would reply with false modesty. The Fox knew that his tail with its fierce red fur and snow white tip was so astounding to behold that it made him the most looked upon and popular creature in the whole forest. Animals would travel from all over the forest just to see him hunt and play.

One evening a lone Firefly arrived in the forest. It wasn’t long before he came across the Fox. “Hello there,” said the Fox, “Can I help you at all?”

“I used to perform with a flea circus” explained the Firefly, “But I had to leave when the Flea’s went on strike and the owner replaced them with animatronics, now I’ve come here to the forest to try and start a show of my own.”

The Fox looked at the Firefly and his heart began to break - he knew that his tail was nothing compared to the light and beauty offered by the Firefly’s.

“I know what these creatures want”, said the Fox, “I’ll tell you what, you show me your act and I’ll give you some pointers so that the other creatures will like it.”

“Oh that would be wonderful, thank you Mr. Fox”, screamed the Firefly with glee.

“Not at all Mr. Firefly, now.......whenever you’re ready”,

The Firefly flew ten feet into the air and burned so brightly several Owls went to bed thinking that the sun had come up. The Firefly’s act was an hour and a half of shear delight - it was beautiful, touching, bright, brilliant and breathtaking. But the Fox just scoffed and said “They won’t go for it - it’s to busy, it’s to long - go and come up with a new act, something shorter, something quicker.”

And so, shocked, the Firefly flew off and spent the weekend working on his new act.

On Monday morning the Firefly came back to the Fox and said “Mr. Fox, I’ve got my new act ready to go - I’m going to have a performance this Friday night - would you mind telling all the creatures you come across about it and invite them to attend”.

“Why I’d be delighted”, replied the Fox as a sly smile revealed his teeth - “I promise I’ll tell every creature that crosses my path about your show”.

But the Fox did nothing, and when Friday night came, the few creatures that had heard about the Firefly’s show were quickly greeted by the Fox.

“Have you seen the Firefly anywhere?” Asked the creatures, - “he told us that he was going to put on a show to entertain us”.

“No I’m afraid I haven’t seen the Firefly at all” replied the Fox, “but I know were there’s a baseball game we could watch that will surely give you entertainment.”

The Fox led the creatures away to a clearing near the forest where they watched some human’s play baseball while the Fox performed some tricks.

The Fox returned to the Firefly and the Firefly asked “There was no one here to see my show - do you know what happened?”

The Fox replied “no one likes you, no one cares - your not popular here now get out of my forest and never return.”

The Firefly turned to leave and feeling the Foxes eyes on his back made it a point not to hang his head low or show any weakness - the Firefly burnt it’s tail bright with pride and boldly went off into the Universe - in search of it’s true audience. In search of it’s true home.