The Birthdays

MR RABBIT AND MR WOLF - THE BIRTHDAYS


Mr Rabbit was excited. He was very, very excited because he had come up with a brilliant idea. He had found out that Mr Wolf’s birthday was in ten days’ time. Mr Wolf was his best friend and he wanted to give him a surprise birthday party.

He wanted to give him a birthday present as well. Mr Rabbit kept on looking and looking for the perfect present but he couldn’t think of anything Mr Wolf would like. Time was running out when, in the village, he came across a furniture shop and in there he found the present.

If he kept it in his house Mr Wolf would see it for sure so Mr Rabbit went across the road to his neighbour Mrs Fox.

‘ Good morning Mrs Fox,’ Mr Rabbit said politely.’ Can I ask you a favour?’

‘ Why, sure Mr Rabbit,’ Mrs Fox answered him.’ Do you need some carrots or sugar maybe, for your carrot cake?’

‘ Oh no Mrs Fox. Nothing like that at all,’ replied Mr Rabbit. He looked around to make sure no one was around and then said softly,’ It’s my friend Mr Wolf’s birthday next week. I have bought him a present but I don’t want him to see it. It’s going to be a surprise.’

‘ Mr Wolf’s birthday, is it?’ said Mrs Fox.

‘ Yes, yes and I would like to have my present delivered to your house, if you don’t mind. I can then give it to him on his birthday.’

‘ Not a problem Mr Rabbit. I have plenty of room in my house.’ Mrs Fox paused then said,’ Do you need a hand with organising the party? My nephew works at the birthday factory and I could get you balloons and all kinds of birthday things.’

‘ Why, thank you Mrs Fox,’ said a relieved Mr Rabbit. ‘ That would help me a lot.’

And so a delivery truck came to Mrs Fox’s house to drop off Mr Wolf’s present.

Now what makes this story very interesting is that surprise, surprise, Mr Rabbit’s birthday was on the same day as Mr Wolf’s. Mr Wolf was also very excited. He had also come up with the brilliant idea of having a surprise party for Mr Rabbit. He also bought a present and not wanting Mr Rabbit to see it in his house had decided to ask Mrs Fox to mind it for him.

He knocked on Mrs Fox’s door and kept looking around to make sure Mr Rabbit didn’t see him there.

‘ Good afternoon Mrs Fox,’ Mr Wolf said politely. ‘ I need a big favour from you, if you don’t mind.’

‘ Why, if I can be of help…….’ Mrs Fox paused and looked at him.

Mr Wolf looked quickly around and then turning to Mrs Fox he said,’ It’s my friend Mr Rabbit’s birthday next week. I have bought him a present but I don’t want him to see it yet. It’s going to be a surprise.’

‘ Mr Rabbit’s birthday, is it?’ said a surprised Mrs Fox.

‘ Yes it is. Would it be too much of a bother if I got the present delivered to your house? I can then give it to him on his birthday.’



‘ No bother at all Mr Wolf. No bother at all,’ said Mrs Fox. ‘ If you need a hand to organise the party I would be glad to help. My nephew works at the birthday factory and I could get you balloons and all kinds of birthday things,’

‘ Brilliant Mrs Fox. Brilliant,’ answered Mr Wolf. ‘ That would be a great weight off my mind.’

And so a delivery truck came to Mrs Fox’s house to drop off Mr Rabbit’s present.

Now Mrs Fox was a widow and a very nice fox she was but she had one fault. She could not keep a secret. Soon the whole street knew that Mr Wolf and Mr Rabbit had their birthday on the same day.

Mrs Fox was buying some vegetables from the corner shop in the village and after paying for the potatoes, tomatoes and cucumbers she got to talking with the people in the shop.

She told Mrs Beaver, Mrs Mole and even Mr Owl who came in just then to buy his daily newspaper.

They all liked Mr Rabbit and Mr Wolf and after a lot of discussion decided that they would talk to all the residents of Tree Lane. Everybody would get together to give them both the biggest and the best birthday party ever. They would surprise them both.

So in secret everybody prepared decorations, presents and food and had a lot of fun doing it. They were nearly caught out a couple of times as an inquisitive Mr Wolf or a curious Mr Rabbit came across them whispering amongst themselves.

The day of the double birthday dawned bright and clear and Mrs Fox wondered how she was going to get rid of both Mr Rabbit and Mr Wolf.

She walked across the road to Mr Rabbit’s house. When he let her in she explained her plan.

‘ Now Mr Rabbit. This needs to be a surprise. Please take Mr Wolf somewhere so I can decorate your front garden in peace. Bring him back at three o’ clock and act surprised.’

Mr Rabbit rubbed his hands in glee and replied, ‘ Leave it to me. I will get him away from here.’

Mrs Fox left Mr Rabbit’s house and went to Mr Wolf’s house.

‘ Mr Wolf, can you take Mr Rabbit somewhere so I can decorate your front garden? This must be a surprise so don’t bring him back before three o’ clock.’

Mr Wolf smoothed his whiskers and with a gleam in his eyes said, ‘ Mrs Fox, you can rely on me. This is going to be the biggest surprise ever. I will keep him away from here until then.’

Mr Wolf and Mr Rabbit met outside and persuaded each other to go into town. A movie re-run of “ The Lion King “ was on and they both loved movies about animals.

When they left, all the neighbours in Tree Lane came out and started decorating. They decorated the whole street with balloons hanging from trees, tinsel stretched out between houses and even coloured lights were hung up as they had decided to keep on partying into the night.

In front of Mr Wolf and Mr Rabbit’s houses they put up a big banner saying:

Happy birthday, Happy birthday
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday, Happy birthday
From us to both of you “

Imagine the look on Mr Wolf and Mr Rabbit’s faces when they came back at three o’ clock and found the whole street decorated. Imagine the surprise they got when they saw the banner.


It was a great party and everybody had lots of fun. The party did go on into the night when Mrs Fox brought out a huge cake. Everybody had at least one slice (even two) it was so delicious.

Mr Rabbit cried with happiness as he hugged all his neighbours. Mr Wolf shook everybody’s hand, not once, not twice, but three times. The residents of Tree Lane were not only neighbours, they were all friends.

The double birthday party was talked about for many, many years.

Would you like to know what Mr Wolf and Mr Rabbit received from each other for their birthday?

Mr Rabbit bought Mr Wolf an armchair to put in front of the TV, a very comfortable armchair.

And surprise, surprise, Mr Wolf bought the same kind of armchair for Mr Rabbit to put in front of his TV.

They were best friends and they stayed best friends forever.