The Fox at the Gate

Theo first saw the fox on the evening his family moved to Pinecrest. It was sitting by the garden gate, perfectly still, watching him with eyes the colour of honey.

"Hello," said Theo, because it seemed rude not to.

"Hello yourself," said the fox. "You're late. The road only opens at dusk, and dusk doesn't wait for anybody."

Theo opened his mouth, closed it again, and decided that if a fox was going to talk to him, the least he could do was listen.