You, my friend, aren't fashionable at all. Dull, grey! said the vixen to the little wolf one day.
And what exactly is fashionable? asked the little wolf, surprised.
Well, aren't you a total hoser! the vixen laughed brightly. You don't even know the modern slang?
I know words like "hello" and "please". Is that the kind you mean?
A hopeless case! the vixen waved her paws dramatically. But you're in luck: I'll take charge of your image!
My image? But everyone already calls me Wolfie.
You really amaze me! the vixen rolled her clever eyes. Image is your "look". You know, how you look!
Why didn't you just say so! Honestly, first a name, then a look... said the little wolf, offended.
The vixen brought her fashion magazines and resolutely set about transforming the little wolf. But, to be honest, he didn't want to change. He liked his grey coat, but he kept quiet, thinking that the ginger trendsetter could not be wrong and knew better how he should look.
The makeover took the whole day. In between, the vixen taught the little wolf modern words.
Remember this, she said firmly, "look" is your style and appearance, and "chilling" means relaxing.
Do I really have to say chilling? sighed the little wolf. Can't I just say: "I'm relaxing"?
Silly, the vixen replied, that sounds far too plain. I only want what's good for you, so you'll be the most fashionable!
But Vixen, the little wolf tried to argue, you don't talk like that yourself!
I don't need to! I'm already very bright! Not everyone is as lucky with a coat as I am. But you need this. You're so plain and grey, at least you'll stand out somehow!
The next day the little wolf was unrecognizable. His fur had turned multicoloured: the vixen had done her best and dyed it in different colours. The helper couldn't choose just one shade, so the little wolf looked like some fairy-tale 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 little wolf wondered why his friends scattered in all directions when they saw him coming.
He dropped by the vegetable patch of an old rabbit to say hello and try out his new words in conversation.
Hey there, Uncle Rabbit, how do you like my new "look"?
The rabbit was so surprised that he dropped his spade and, blinking, said:
Sorry, I have no ash, and I don't buy lookers, whatever those are.
I'm not selling anything, I'm asking about my image, the little wolf tried to explain.
Image? the rabbit asked in confusion. I don't know any vegetables by that name!
It's not a vegetable... It's...
Listen, kid, you'd better be on your way, I don't understand you. You're a strange one! the rabbit could not hold back.
The little wolf was a bit upset, but then he thought: Uncle Rabbit is already getting on in years, that's why he didn't understand him. He should chat with one of his friends. Then he spotted little Mouse Malyshka:
Hey, Malyshka!
The mouse looked at the little wolf in bewilderment.
It's me, the little wolf!
The little wolf? You don't look like yourself at all.
Totally trendy, right? the little wolf smiled.
More like weird, the mouse answered quietly.
The little wolf decided to impress his friend with new words. He wanted to invite her to the river, so he said:
Wanna go chill at the river?
Chilling, as the vixen had already explained, meant relaxing, but the mouse didn't know that! Tears began to shine in her eyes:
How mean you are, little wolf! You know I'm allergic to pepper, especially such a hot one as chili!
The little wolf was lost: the mouse was crying, and he didn't even know how to calm her down.
Luckily, Auntie Owl was flying by:
Children, what happened? Little wolf, is that you? What's with the look?
It's the latest trend, said the little wolf.
More like weird, the owl said sternly, and you, mouse, why are you crying?
He wanted to feed me chili pepper, and he knows I'm allergic, some friend he is! Boo-hoo...
I never wanted to feed you anything, the little wolf said in confusion, I just invited you to the river to relax.
But you said it differently!
I said the same thing: "Let's go chill at the river." Those are trendy, modern words.
Little wolf, the owl said sternly, the mouse doesn't know these words. And I'll be honest, I don't know them either. Where did you pick them up?
From fashion magazines, the little wolf said sadly. Then he told them how the vixen had changed his look, and how he had talked with the old rabbit, who hadn't understood him.
The mouse stopped crying and began to giggle. The owl burst out laughing too:
Little wolf, do you actually like your new look? And these trendy words?
Honestly, no, the little wolf also started smiling when he realized how silly he looked, I still love my grey coat more, and these words are confusing for me. I keep mixing them up and forgetting what they mean.
The dye washed out after a couple of days, and the little wolf became a wolf 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. And there's no need to become someone else, because everyone is unique!
