Melvin the Evil Black Fox by Carrie Hiller

Melvin the Evil Black Fox

There once was a country called... well, that I am not permitted to tell you. In the country, an evil loomed. It was called (“I love this story!” “Christopher! Would you shut up? I’m trying to write a story here!”) Melvin. Melvin, the Evil Black Fox. (“Oh, yeah, Melvin’s a really evil name.” “Christopher!”) The Evil Fox roamed the land, and the king took many precautions against it. (“Wait, isn’t this the king of Cau-” “Christopher! I’m not permitted to hear or speak the the name of the country!” “Gosh, sorry.”) The king, named King Huron, set up a barrier around the kingdom, doubled his army, and increased the work force to dig a trench. But somehow Melvin (“I laugh every time I hear that name.” “Christopher!” “Well-“ “I said be quiet!”) got through all of these traps, and the king became depressed. The people of the land were also angered, for Melvin was ravaging their homes in the dead of night, stealing their food, and taking their money. Many soldiers lost their lives in search of the Fox to destroy him. Finally, one boy came along (“Oh yeah, this part.” “CHRISTOPHER!”) and challenged all the knights and soldiers. This is what he said: “O hail, thou knights and soldiers, for I challenge thee! Listen carefully to my words, for I shall henceforth speaketh only once. (“This kid is weird. What’s with the old English?” “It’s part of the story.” “Oh.”) Here is my request: That thy swords be sharpened and unsheathed, thy chivalry be diminished, and thy feet be quick as fire! For I challenge thee to a race! A race to find Melvin, this Evil Black Fox thou speaketh so much of. My name is Nivlem, the knight from a country I am not permitted to speak of, and I challenge thee, (“Hasn’t he already said that enough?” “Shut up! This is my story, not yours!”) once and for all, to find this Melvin! The first to do so shall be rewarded in full by me. I shall givest thou eight gold pieces if you are successful in bring Melvin to me-alive. Now, find Melvin, and then-find me!” And he disappeared. The crowd gasped in stunned silence. They did not know what to do. Then suddenly, (“Hey! This is where that one knight gives a battle cry or something and then runs into the forest to find Melvin, who is actually-“ “CHRISTOPHER SHANE WILLIAMS! How many times do I have to tell you?” “Yikes, a little aggressive, are we?”) a knight lifted his sword and gave a battle cry and raced into the forest. Five other knights, coming to their senses, raced after him.

Behind a tree, Melvin the Evil Black Fox snickered. “They’ll never find me. Or this 'Nivlem'.”

And they haven’t. Not yet. (“Except for your brother!” “Yes, except for my annoying brother-“ “I forgot what the country was called.” “Don’t try me.”) Not ever. For here he sits, writing this now, and those six knights are still running all over the forests. (“Wasn’t it Caudland?” “CHRISTOPHER!!”)

Hey, Readers, it's Carrie

As you can see this is a very short story that needs a little bit of work. There are things I need to change, but I'm not sure how to do it. That is where you come in. Here are a few questions for you to answer. You can make up a story or do a short answer, whatever you like.

-Who exactly is Melvin, why does the king fear him, and how did he come to be?

-Why can't he speak or hear the name of the town he was in? (Caudland)

-Why is with his brother?

-And why is he writing this story anyway??

You only need to answer one or two of the questions, not all of them. Send your answers to serendipityjournal@gmail.com Thanks for your help!

~Carrie for the S.J.