Fred’s the Star
A Tale of Friendship and Survival in the Dales
by
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After their meeting, the young fieldmouse went in search of his neighbour: 'Though he knew it was safer to remain in the shelter of the stones of the wall, Fred was getting anxious about his new neighbour and possible friend, so he hopped down the wall towards the copse and decided to search for Bertie’s sett, whatever a sett looked like. The ground, grasses and sounds on this side of the wall were very different from his side; the grazing sheep did not usually eat in this area, unlike the field near his bit of wall. It was confusing and some of the plants among the tall grasses of the copse had strange scents, some quite bitter and sour whilst others hinted at a sweetness that had not reached Fred's twitching nostrils before. He kept stopping, sniffing and listening with every new plant and every new sound so he was not very far from the dry-stone wall when he caught the scent of a badger but was it Bertie? Fred continued following the scent that was drifting from the tall grasses and low twigs on the shrubs but all of the warnings of his parents and Bertie came crowding into his mind. Should he get back to the safety of the wall or should he go forward?
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About the Book
Fred is a young field mouse, and he’s the only one in his family to survive the winter. It was the coldest winter the North Yorkshire Dales had ever known. As he sits nibbling away at a slightly browned apple core at the base of the dry stone wall he calls his home, Fred catches the sight of movement from the corner of his eye. He freezes at first, and then slowly turns to find a very large creature with a menacing snout and very long, menacing claws. Fred is relieved to learn that the creature is Bertram Kettlewell Smiley of Upper Wharfedale—Bertie, for short—and that he’s not just a badger, but a badger of great repute. Fred is glad he’s met Bertie and it’s a good thing he has, for it isn’t long before trouble threatens as they search for new homes. It’s a move that becomes the first in a series of adventures that help them learn more about each other. And who knows, they may find other new friends, and even something more, in their adventures.
About the Author
P W Brisley has worked in England and in international schools as a teacher and leader for many years. As a head teacher in England and beyond, Phill found it useful to use such stories to help illustrate important lessons to his students in both in his classes and assemblies. He has recently returned to the UK after finishing his most recent posting, in Malaysia.