Rupert and the Wooden Airplanes
CHAPTER 1
On an autumn afternoon, Rupert and his friend Bill were practicing goal kicking. Bill was acting as goalie while Rupert was doing the kicking.
"All right Rupert," said Bill, "Now remember I want you to shoot for the spot for where I'm not looking."
"Yes of course I know Bill, you told me that before," replied Rupert.
"Just making sure, now here it comes." Bill rolled the ball to Rupert and got ready to block, Rupert kicked the ball lightly toward Bill who easily stopped it with his foot.
"Perhaps I wouldn't be repeating what I said if you actually kicked it AWAY from me Rupert," said Bill, "It's like you aren't even trying."
"I know my kicking game could use improvement Bill, but this is November and the next playing season is not until spring," said Rupert, "I also think we should be more concerned with tomorrow's math test, you know Dr. Chimp won't make it easy for us."
"There's plenty of time for studying after our suppers," said Bill, "Besides, I wouldn't be forcing this on you if Algy wasn't nagging me about it. Now please put some effort into this one." Bill replied in a stern yet assuring way, so Rupert thought perhaps that he only meant well.
"All right Bill, just for you I'll really kick it this time," said Rupert as he prepared for the next shot. Bill rolled out the ball and with great energy Rupert delivered a big kick. Bill tried to stop it but fell to the ground trying to grab it. Needless to say, the kick was so strong that it even began rolling down the hill toward the road.
"I didn't say to kick it out of bounds," said Bill as he picked himself up.
"No worries Bill, I'll get it," said Rupert as he started chasing after the ball which eventually stopped on the road. Seeing no one coming, Rupert went into the road to get the ball but was suddenly startled by a couple of fast bicyclists who both steered clear of Rupert and then crashed. Concerned as he picked up the ball, he saw who it was that rode past him.
"Freddy, Ferdy, are you two okay?" asked Rupert as he ran toward them.
The two Fox brothers got up and got confrontational. "Oh we're just perfect Rupert, no thanks to you!" retorted Freddy.
Ferdy also shouted back, "What were you doing in our way?"
"I was picking up a ball off the road that rolled down the hill by mistake," replied Rupert, "Of course, I must admit that you two were going awfully fast, I didn't realize that you were coming."
"Well it's not our fault that you are lousy at sport," said Freddy.
"I am not!" shouted Rupert, "I practice real hard, much unlike you guys who were once kicked off the team for trying to cheat in the game against Appleton."
"We weren't cheating, we have our own way of playing the game," said Ferdy. "We would be happy to show you some great moves if you aren't so cruel to us."
"I never had the need to learn things from you, and now if you excuse me Bill is waiting for me at the top of the hill," said Rupert as he left. The two Foxes look to each other with a sly look, as if they plan to cause mischief.
Rupert met at somewhat impatient Bill back at the top. "You're a little slow bringing my ball back Rupert."
"Sorry Bill," said Rupert, "I would be up here sooner if it wasn't for a couple of Foxes crossing my path, quote-on-quote."
"Forget about Freddy and Ferdy, they are just a couple of twits," replied Bill. "Now let's get back to our practice." And so Rupert took his position for another goal kick. Bill rolled the ball out to him and Rupert kicked. Finally the ball is on target but suddenly out of nowhere Freddy Fox jumped out and grabbed the ball.
"Hooray! Foxes 1, Rupert 0!" yelled Ferdy as he emerged.
"What are you two doing here?" asked an irritated Bill, "Can't you see that I'm busy helping Rupert?"
"There's no need to get upset, all we want is to give Rupert here a few pointers about how to play this game right," said Freddy.
"Well I think you just want to be trouble! Now scram before I, I," Bill couldn't not spit his words out he was so mad.
"I'll settle this," said Rupert as he turned to the Foxes, "If you two really think you can teach me well, then here, take this ball and show me." Rupert handed the ball to Freddy and Ferdy much to Bill's disapproval.
"Rupert, what are you doing?" asked Bill, "I don't want them touching my things."
"Relax Bill, I think maybe if Freddy and Ferdy make fools of themselves they'll be too embarrassed to stick around," whispered Rupert.
Bill, though reluctant, went along with it, "All right, it's your plan."
"Now you both sit back and see how we professionals play," said Ferdy, "Ready Freddy?"
"Ready Ferdy, watch me burn a hole through the net." Ferdy rolled the ball to Freddy who tried to kick but ended up tripping on the ball as it rolled over.
"Any 'professional' will tell you that the sole isn't the sweet spot." yelled Bill sarcastically as he and Rupert started laughing.
"You be quiet Badger, we're trying to teach Rupert something," said Freddy as he got up. He gave the ball back to Ferdy who rolled it out to his brother. This time Freddy swung his leg but the ball rolled past him. Once again he fell to the ground and Rupert and Bill laughed even more.
"Why can't you roll the ball closer to my foot Ferdy?"
"It's not my fault you can't kick Freddy!"
"No it's your fault!"
"No your fault!"
The two Foxes started bickering as usual. While Bill continued to see the whole thing hilarious, Rupert made a suggestion. "How about letting me kick, after all if I'm the one who needs improvement, I should do it."
"No Rupert, I'm going to kick now because Freddy can't get it into the goal," said Ferdy.
"Fine, I want to see you try if you think you are so smart Ferdy," said Freddy.
"If Ferdy is any smarter than Freddy, I would never guess they were twins," uttered Bill.
Ferdy took position to kick the ball, Freddy rolled it out to him but in no different of a way Ferdy missed the ball as it went between his legs. He too fell down.
"All right you two that's enough," said Bill, "I'll have my ball back."
"You don't want this ball Bill, it's a stupid piece of junk!" The Fox brothers did not take well to their embarrassment, and Ferdy was so angry he slammed the ball onto a nearby tree stump and using his foot he pushed down hard enough for it to puncture open. This effectively wiped away Bill's good humor.
"WHY DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!" yelled Bill, who became very hot tempered.
"Why do you care so much about a ball that can't be kicked?" said Ferdy.
"Well it was working just fine until you both showed up!" replied Bill.
"Oh really, if that ball is no good to us Foxes, then it's no good to anyone," said Freddy.
"You two are such losers you don't begin to know the first thing about any sport," said Bill.
"Well maybe you should be glad we didn't break our bones trying to kick that thing," said Ferdy.
"Before I see you break your bones, I'd much rather see your mum break her back!" shouted Bill.
"Why you miserable badger!" Freddy approached Bill with a clenched fist, but right there Rupert got in between.
"Everyone stop!" yelled Rupert, "Look, for starters Bill I'll take the blame for this, I didn't know that giving the ball to the Fox brothers would lead to it getting deflated. I'm sorry." Rupert then turned to Freddy. "But you both should have minded your own business in the first place!"
"So you also want our mum to break her back, huh?" retorted Freddy.
"Actually I really don't like what Bill said," said Rupert, "but next time you both better ask us before you get in our way, do you understand?"
"Whatever Rupert, come on Ferdy let's go." The two Foxes left the playing field as Rupert picked up what's left of Bill's ball.
"I guess I'll have to buy you a new football Bill," said Rupert. "I should have known that Freddy and Ferdy would be that mean."
"I don't even want to think about it anymore Rupert, I just want to go home and eat this off." Bill took his broken ball from Rupert. "I'll see you tomorrow."
The next morning before school, Rupert and Bill put their lecture notes together and tried to make sense of their long division skills.
"What I don't understand is why when I bring down the five, I have the number thirty five, and I divide off of that?" asked Bill.
"There are plenty of mathematicians who figured that out long ago, otherwise Dr. Chimp wouldn't be testing us on it," replied Rupert.
"Well I'll do it if it means getting correct answers," said Bill.
"You don't seem entirely confident about the test," said Rupert.
"Problem is Rupert, I was so mad at the Fox brothers it was just so tough to concentrate on this," Bill said. "And this gorgeous Thursday morning isn't helping at all, the thought of doing long division inside with blue sky, birds singing, the fire brigade ringing their bells-
There was a pause in Bill's words. "Fire brigade?!"
Rupert and Bill soon heard the sound of bells gradually get louder. Cedric Pig was yelling the word fire many times as they ran down the road. Rupert soon saw a black plume of smoke in the direction they were headed, "Bill, look at that, someone's house must be on fire!"
"Do we know anyone who lives that way?" asked Bill.
"I have one theory, why don't we go look?" said Rupert who chased after the firemen.
Bill followed reluctantly, "Rupert, I don't want to be late for school on a test day."
"We have plenty of time Bill, come on." Rupert and Bill ran down the road and caught up to the firemen. The house that was burning was the Fox residence. Freddy and Ferdy were outside with their dad as the firemen started to put out the fire. Rupert and Bill hid behind a bush trying to avoid being visible.
"It's Freddy and Ferdy's house," said Rupert.
"I wouldn't suppose those two decided to play with matches," said Bill.
"As much as that isn't a bad guess, I do see that much of the fire was burning where their kitchen is," said Rupert, "I'm also wonder why Mrs. Fox isn't outside with her family."
"I'm afraid there's your answer Rupert." Bill pointed to a couple of the firemen carrying Mrs. Fox out of the burning house. She was alive, as indicated by her audible moaning, but was in great pain.
"She must be hurt badly. Oh Rupert, I can't bear to watch this anymore." Bill sat down and held his head.
"You sure aren't acting like you wanted this to happen Bill," replied Rupert.
"I take it all back," said Bill sadly, "Even if those Foxes caused us trouble it's not like they don't have anyone that loves them. I feel really bad."
"Come on Bill, we better head off to school," said Rupert as he thought about the time.
"Go on without me Rupert, I'll be much safer if I stay out of sight," said Bill.
"You can't play hooky on a test day, Dr. Chimp will fail you," said Rupert.
"Fine then, let's go," said Bill, "And remember, we weren't here."
