

One day, a fox was walking in the forest. He saw a big lake with clear water. He was thirsty, so he went to drink. But when he looked at his reflection, he saw that his fur was dirty and messy.
"Oh no!" he said. "I need to clean myself. I want to look nice and shiny."
He jumped into the water and started to scrub his fur with his paws. He splashed and played and had fun. He felt happy and fresh.
But then he heard a voice behind him. It was a serious owl, who was sitting on a branch.
"Fox, what are you doing?" the owl asked. "You are wasting time and water. You should be hunting and learning, not playing and cleaning. You are a wild animal, not a pet."
The fox felt ashamed. He got out of the water and shook his fur.
"I'm sorry, owl," he said. "I just wanted to look nice and shiny. I didn't mean to be silly."
The owl looked at him with his big eyes.
"Fox, you don't need to look nice and shiny. You need to be smart and strong. That's what makes you a good fox. And you are not silly. You are curious and playful. That's what makes you a happy fox. But you also need to balance your fun and your work. That's what makes you a wise fox."
The fox nodded. He understood what the owl said.
"Thank you, owl," he said. "You are a good friend. You teach me a lot. Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course, fox," the owl said. "What do you want to know?"
The fox smiled.
"Can I clean myself again tomorrow?" he asked.
