2009. Watercolor on paper.

A little fox came tugging at the hem of my skirt. He was dapper and charming, and said, in the precise diction of the educated fox, “Please, ma’am… you may not remember me, being just a little fox and all, and in the middle of such confusion… but we did meet at Anthrocon… and I apologize for troubling you, but…”

“Yes?” I asked, wondering what he was on about.

“Well, you see, as I remember, you had to leave in something of a hurry, a family emergency…”

My heart lurched. Oh, I remember. It was a rough day all around. Getting a call from the Uterus saying, “Come get Mouse,” cashing out early, apologizing to each of my patrons and saying I’d mail them the finished pieces, 8 hours of driving and worrying myself sick…

Then I remembered the little fox… my gear packed, my art bag slung over my shoulder, trying to be stoic but brain spinning with worry about what an emergency with Mouse might mean… when a fox’s refined, dark paw placed cash for the gas money home in my hand. I looked into his gentle eyes, worried and yet hopeful.

“Please write your contact information in my notebook, take one of my cards, and I’ll create a piece for you.”

Now, here we stood, again, his eyes so gentle and hopeful… maybe a little tired? I smiled. “So shines a good deed in a weary world."

Cinna Chevalier, here is your fox.