Week 1 Storytelling: The Beauty in Friendship

An oil painting of a fox climbing on a branch in the night.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Week 1: The Beauty in Friendship

A fox has by some means got into the store-room of a theatre. Suddenly he observed a face glaring down on him, and began to be very frightened; but looking more closely he found it was only a Mask, such as actors use to put over their face. “Ah,” said the Fox, “you look very fine; it is a pity you have not got any brains.”

(Traditional Aesop Fable)

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On a cold, dark and stormy night, Pat the Fox peeked into windows of every building on Main Street looking for a warm place to be. Finally, coming across Hound Theatre, Pat the Fox noticed a light had been left on and the window accidentally ajar. He jumped through the small, but large enough for him to fit crevice and began drying himself off from the rain.

Then he heard a faint sound, something that sounded like a little girl laughing. Pat the Fox looked up from cleaning himself and his face was met with a person. Jumping back on all four, he exclaimed, “Whoa! Watch yourself there missy.” Then he realized it was just a mask, and coolly laughed his fright off. Pat the Fox, still somewhat hesitant, took a few steps toward the mask when it shouted back, “How did you get in here? You shouldn’t be here at this hour. You look like a freak.” Pat the Fox twisted his head as to listen better, and responded, “Why, I came in out of the cold. Besides, at least I am only temporarily wet, while you, Mask, are only a thin piece of paper mache with no body or a brain.” 

Ventian carnival face mask. Photo: Pixabay

The mask laughed heartily and said, “At least I bring joy to people who use me and those who see me. I am the epitome of beauty.” Pat the Fox was insulted by this. He thought to himself that he may not have all the colors of the rainbow on his snout, but he gets the glory of exploring the world.” He said to the Mask that was still quietly laughing, “I may not be as colorful as you, but I don’t have to reply on humans to dictate when I get to explore or enjoy the beauty of the world.” 

The Mask stopped laughing. The Mask was sad at the thought that Pat the Fox was right. The Mask only ever got to see other people or explore new roles or see the different landscapes (which were only painted backgrounds) when the humans needed her. As beautiful as she ever was on the surface, she knew she was without a brain and without a body, too. She would never be free to think for herself or see the beauty of the world. The Mask began to weep, and Pat the Fox decided to comfort her by curling up near her. He asked, “May I stay the night? I will tell you stories about the wonderful world that maybe one day you will get the chance to see.”

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Author's Note: Above is the original Aesop fable, and below it I have written my own version of The Fox and The Mask. Originally, the fable describes a fox that has wondered into a room of a theatre where there is a mask. The fox tells the mask that it's too bad it doesn't have any brains. I have continued the story from there to reflect the idea that friendships can develop out of thin air and between things and people. In addition, not only can friendships develop but beauty can be interpreted many different ways, whether it be in the form of theatre art and drama or outdoors in the natural world.



Bibliography: This story is based on the Aesop's fable "The Fox and The Mask." in The Fables of Aesop by Joseph Jacobs.