Fox Fur

 My grandmother had a fox fur stole with a head and paws. She died when I was only four but I still remember the terror I felt when she hugged me while wearing it.

ALL THE GRANNIES HAD DEAD FOXES 

Pat Ingoldsby

My Granny used to wear a dead fox around her neck.
She would be standing there with the dead fox on her
and its eyes would be looking at you.
Then she would take it off
and drape it over the back of the sofa
and it would still be looking at you.
And it would be telling you with its eyes
"The rest of them think I'm dead but you and I
know differently and when you're asleep tonight
Sonny Jim, I'm going to creep upstairs and eat you."
"Ma! Granny's fox is lookin' at me and thinkin'
about eating me!"
"If you don't eat your dinner I'll fox you."
So you lay awake for hours watching the door.
Or you'd be in under the stairs
trying to find your coat
and you'd be peeling away the layers
when suddenly - "WAAAAAHHHH!!"
Granny's fox would be hiding under the coats.
Granny's fox would be looking at you.
"Is that you roaring under the stairs!!?"
"Granny's fox is lookin' at me!"
"You're going up to bed in a minute!!"
I think they only shot the ones with the glass eyes.

in Do Lámh I Mo Bhrístí, 2001