"Come right up, folks! Try your chances!" A lone fox stood at an intersection, trying in vain to grab any passerby's attention. An elephant trumpeted in his face and continued on his way.
Still, the slick smile didn't leave the fox's face. He leaned against the corner wall, almost lazily, and tried again.
"Try your chances! Only 2 dollars!"
Absentmindedly, he rearranged the cups on his stand over and over, flipping them expertly. A tiny panda dragged her father over to watch him, and squealed in excitement.
The fox smirked and leaned down towards the little cub. He held out a small, colourful stone, and the panda cooed. The father just looked concerned, and kept an eye sternly on the fox.
"Hey, little girl. If you can find this stone," He feigned putting the stone under a cup and slid it onto the stand, "you can keep it. Sounds cool?"
The little panda nodded eagerly, and the fox began moving the cups around, very slowly, careful to keep the stone hidden in his palm. When he stopped, the panda immediately lifted up a cup, only to find it empty.
The fox put a hand into his pocket, seemingly bored, and slipped the stone in.
The panda began whimpering, and the fox's eyes grew wide. "No, no, no, don't cry, don't cry," He tried desperately. The father was already looking around for police. "Um, no, don't cry, see?" He pulled a coin out from behind the panda's ear, but she just screamed and cried harder than ever.
"Hey!" Came a small voice. A tiny bunny wearing a police costume marched up to him, hands on hips. The fox tried not to let his amusement show on his face, and just continued to lean against the wall.
"Is there a problem, officer?" His voice came off as a drawl.
The bunny's nose was quivering, which he took to mean anger or nervousness. She took the little panda's hand and glared at him. "Were you mean to her?" She accused.
The fox put his hands up in defence. "Whoa, whoa, little bunny. What's a cute little thing like you doing here?" He chuckled.
Her nose twitched. "Don't call me cute."
He tapped her on the nose. "Well, you can't deny what you are, and what you are is c–" She stuck her ears in his face, ripped out a page from her notebook, scribbled on it, and taped it carefully to his stand. She stood up, straightened her plastic badge, dusted off her vest, and turned up her nose.
"Good day, sir," She finished, and walked away purposely. She broke into a skip soon, though, and caught up with an older rabbit who looked like her mother. The little bunny chatted happily, her eyes bright, while the mother just looked wary of the fox.
He took a look at the piece of paper. She had written, in very messy handwriting, "Fine: 1 milion $$, for scareing a panda."
The fox rolled his eyes, crumpled up the piece of paper and threw it away, and set up the stand again. The day's not over yet.