The Fox, Red

003 - A Strange "Initiation"

Morning came sooner than I wanted. The sun peeked through a tree hitting me in the face. It jarred me awake but I'm still not all together. I struggle to wake up when I heard her, "Good morning Red. Ready for your day?" I struggle to stand but answer, "Yes, Madam Odette. What's for breakfast?"

"I already ate. The sun is up, now you do what I tell you to do. You missed your chance at breakfast. Come with me."

I stagger out into the light following her through the garden. Today she has on a black shirt with pink bell bottom-looking pants. What are we doing today that she's dressed like that? I continue to follow her around the garden as she leads me to an area just off of the grounds. "Ok Red, Doug marked the trees you're going to cut down with an orange 'x'. Your ax is over there. When you are done with them talk to the badger at the door and he will get me. If you do not finish before sundown I will come to you. 14 trees need to be cut down. Have at it." She turns around and walks away. "How will..."

"Did I ask you or give you anything that hinted you to answer me?"

"No, but..."

"Hm?"

I jar myself to a stop, "No, Madam Odette."

She walks off leaving me to the trees. With a heavy sigh, I grab the ax and start swinging at the tree. They all look to be about 25 feet around and 70 feet or higher. "This would be a lot quicker with a chainsaw. Why is she making me use an ax?"

"To teach you."

"Oh, sweet raptor Jesus!"

I fell right on my ass she scared me so bad. "Remember, do not talk to anyone but me and it's 'Madam Odette' when addressing me." She left again, leaving me alone. I picked up my ax and wonder how she did that. Just show up out of nowhere. I go to open my mouth but she may show up again. I go back to hitting the tree. Around noon my stomach growls letting me know I'm hungry. I put the ax down to think for a moment before speaking, "Madam Odette? You around?" There's no answer. "Madam Odette?" I look trying to find her. "I guess she can't be around me all the time."

"You will address me as Madam Odette at all times."

I cringe immediately at the sound of her voice. "I'm going to make this clear for you. There is no 'she' or 'her'. It is always Madam Odette. Try it again." I struggle for a second, I guess Madam Odette can't always be around me."

"Good, and I can, and I am. Now, what do you want?"

"Lunch?"

"Are you uncertain of what you want?"

"No. Can..."

She cut me off, "No? What?"

"No, Madam Odette."

"Again, what do you want?

"Lunch."

"Have you earned it? How many trees have you cut down?"

"None yet."

She shrugged her shoulders at my answer, "Sounds like you have work to get done then. Back to it."

I try to stutter out words but nothing comes until I finally give up, "Yes, Madam Odette." I watch her walk off to make sure she leaves. She does look back to smirk at me once. At this point, I'm thinking this is just to get free work out of me. But with no foreseeable way out I have to keep at it.

Before I know it, the day is gone. The sun just disappeared behind the mountain casting its shadow over the grounds. The tree is about halfway to where it will fall. "Red!" I know that voice, "You are done for the day." I drop the ax from my sore paws almost falling to the ground myself. I follow Madam Odette back to the main house where I finally ask, "What's for dinner?" She turns to me and I can see that look on her face where I screwed up.