You're not trendy at all, mate. Boring, grey! said the vixen to the wolf cub one day.
And what's trendy supposed to be? asked the wolf cub.
Strewth, you're hopeless! the vixen laughed brightly. Don't you know any of the modern lingo?
I know words like "good day" and "please". Is that the sort you mean?
Bad case! the vixen said, flapping her paws dramatically. But you're in luck: I'll sort out your image!
My image? But my name's already Wolfie.
You're really something else! the vixen rolled her cunning little eyes. Image is "the look". Well, how you look!
Why didn't you just say so! Honestly, first it's a name, then it's a look... said the wolf cub, offended.
The vixen brought her fashion magazines and set about makeovers for the wolf cub with determination. But, to be honest, he didn't want to change. He liked his grey coat, but he kept quiet, thinking the ginger fashionista couldn't be wrong and knew better how he should look.
The makeover took the whole day. In between, the vixen taught the wolf cub trendy words.
Remember this, she insisted, "the look" is your style, your appearance, and "chilling" means relaxing.
Does it really have to be chilling? sighed the wolf cub. Can't I just say: "I'm having a rest"?
Silly, the vixen objected, that sounds far too plain. I only want what's good for you, so you'll be the most fashionable!
Vixen, the wolf cub tried to argue, but you don't talk like that yourself!
I don't need to! I'm already very vibrant! Not everyone is lucky enough with a coat like mine. But you need it. You're so plain and grey, at least you'll stand out!
The next day the wolf cub was unrecognisable. His fur had turned multicoloured, as the vixen had gone to work dyeing it in different colours. The helper couldn't choose just one shade, so the cub now looked like some fairytale creature with red, yellow, green, purple and even pink stripes.
And this character talked very strangely too. Many of the critters preferred to hide from him. The wolf cub wondered why his friends scattered in all directions when they spotted him.
He popped into the vegetable patch of the old rabbit to say hello and try out his new words in conversation.
G'day, Uncle Bunny, what do you reckon of my new "look"?
The rabbit was so startled he dropped his spade and, blinking, said:
Sorry, I've got no ash, and I don't buy shallots.
I'm not selling shallots, I'm asking about my image, tried to explain the wolf cub.
Midge? the rabbit asked in surprise. I don't know any such vegetables!
They're not vegetables... It's...
Listen, mate, you'd best be on your way, I don't understand you. You're a strange one! the rabbit could stand no more.
The wolf cub was a bit upset, but then he thought: Uncle Bunny is getting on in years, that's why he didn't understand him. He should have a chat with one of his other friends. Then he spotted Little Mouse:
G'day, Little Mouse!
The mouse looked at the wolf cub in bewilderment.
It's me, the wolf cub!
The wolf cub? You don't look at all like you usually do.
Trendy, right? grinned the wolf cub.
More like strange, the mouse replied quietly.
The wolf cub decided to impress his friend with his new words. He wanted to invite her to the creek, so he said:
Shall we go down to the creek to chill?
Chilling, as the vixen had already explained, meant relaxing, but the mouse didn't know that! Tears began to glisten in her eyes:
How mean you are, wolf cub! You know I'm allergic to chilli, especially such a fiery one!
The wolf cub was lost: the mouse was in tears, and he didn't even know how to calm her down.
Luckily, Aunty Owl happened to fly past:
Children, what's happened? Wolf cub, is that you? What on earth is that look?
It's the latest fashion, said the wolf cub.
More like strange, the owl said sternly, and you, mouse, why are you crying?
He wanted to feed me chilli pepper, and he knows I'm allergic, some friend he is! Wah-wah...
I didn't want to feed you anything, said the wolf cub, bewildered. I invited you to the creek to rest.
But you said it differently!
I said exactly the same thing: "Let's go chilling at the creek." Those are trendy, modern words.
Wolf cub, the owl said sternly, the mouse doesn't know these words. And I'll be honest, neither do I. Where did you pick them up?
From fashion magazines, said the wolf cub sadly. Then he told them how the vixen had been changing his look, and how he'd tried talking with the old rabbit, who hadn't understood him at all.
The mouse stopped crying and started laughing merrily. The owl burst out laughing too:
Wolf cub, do you actually like your new look? And these trendy words?
Honestly? No, said the wolf cub, grinning too when he realised how silly he looked, I love my grey coat much more, and these words are hard for me. I keep mixing them up and forgetting what they mean.
The dye washed out after a couple of days, and the wolf cub became a wolf cub again. He talks normally now too, because it's much nicer when people understand you.
Yes, my dear little ones, that's how it goes. It's good that we are all different. We shouldn't try to become someone else, because everyone is unique!
