The Last Bunny

Five bunny brothers go on an adventure to the pond, where they meet Alligator and his brother.

Once there were five Bunny brothers. They loved hanging out together.

Sometimes they would do silly things like climb to the top of a hill and curl up in a ball and roll down or make clothing using leaves and vegetables and vines.

Sometimes they would do helpful things like going to the grocery store for the older animals in the forest, or help Goat build a four-story tree house.

Once, they all held on to Snake, who had put his mouth around Stork’s leg because he couldn’t stop flapping his wings. Finally, Stork got so tired that he fell asleep, and when he woke up, he was fine.

Well, one day, they decided to go to the pond. Mother Bunny didn’t like them playing around the pond, but she trusted them.

“Be careful,” she said as they left. “Bunnies can’t swim.”

“We know, Mom,” they called out as they hopped out the door.

Well, they jumped over logs, hopped around trees, lunged in and out of shrubs and bounded among the reeds at the edge of the pond.

One of them noticed a rock and decided to climb it. The rest of them followed him, each one helping the next one, until the rock was full of bunnies.

They decided this was the perfect spot for a wonderful little picnic, so they reached into their pockets for the carrot their mother had placed there, and began to munch.

They began to relax and listen to the wind in the trees and the chirping of birds.

Suddenly, a huge splash came from just beyond the rock and completely soaked each and every one of the bunnies.

“Hey,” said one.

“What’s going on?” said another.

They were all dripping wet when a large growly voice came from below them.

“Hello bunnies,” it said. “Enjoying your snack?”

They carefully looked over the edge. It was Alligator.

“Oh, Alligator,” the bunnies sighed.

“Who did you think it was?” asked Alligator.

“Oh,” said one of the bunnies, “you just startled us.”

“So sorry,” he said. “Say, I need one of you to play ball with me and my brother. Would any of you like to come to the other side of the pond with me?”

The bunnies all looked at each other.

“Sure,” said one of them. “I’ll go, but I can’t swim.”

“Oh, that’s no problem,“ said Alligator. Just jump onto my nose and I’ll take you to the other side.

“OK,” said the bunny as he carefully got to the edge of the rock and aimed at Alligator’s nose.

He hopped off the rock, aiming carefully at his nose, when Alligator suddenly opened his mouth, and “SNAP!” he swallowed the bunny.

“Oh, no!” the Bunnies screamed. “You ate our brother.”

Oh, what a tragedy. They all looked in horror and disbelief.

Then Alligator came up out of the water. He was spitting and gagging.

“What happened?” yelled one of the bunnies.

“Oh, bunnies!” said Alligator. “I’m so sorry. That was totally an accident. Oh, I feel so bad about eating your brother. Anyway, I don’t like bunnies, they are way too spicy for me.”

The bunnies believed him.

“Well,” said one of the bunnies. “We forgive you. It’s understandable.”

“You are an alligator,” said another bunny.

The Alligator was happy they forgave him.

“So,” wondered Alligator, “would any of you consider coming with me so we can play ball with you?”

“Are you going to be careful this time?” asked a bunny.

“Oh,” said Alligator, “of course, of course.”

The bunnies talked it over and they decided Alligator was sincere, so one of the bunnies readied himself to jump onto Alligator.

He hopped onto Alligator’s nose. So far, so good.

Alligator started to turn, but he swung around so quickly that the bunny lost his balance and fell off Alligator’s nose.

“Oh, no!” the bunnies yelled.

The bunny began splashing and gurgling and trying to yell help.

“Alligator!” yelled one of the bunnies from the rock. “Alligator, help him, he’s drowning.”

Alligator quickly spun around and headed back to the quickly sinking bunny. Just as the tip of the bunny’s ear went under, Alligator was there to catch him.

Alligator opened his mouth, completely meaning to just snatch him out of the water, but opened too wide and snapped his mouth onto the bunny and swallowed him.

When the bunnies on the rock realized that Alligator had just swallowed another one of their brothers, they freaked out.

“AAAAARGH!” they yelled. They were sobbing loudly.

“Oh, no!” they cried.

Alligator was coughing and gagging again.

One of the bunnies was crying and sobbing so hard that he fainted and fell backwards into the water.

“NOOOOOO!” yelled the two bunnies that were left.

“Alligator,” yelled one bunny, “Save our brother!”

“Wait!” said the other bunny.

But it was too late. Alligator again, meaning well, trying to save the bunny, opened his mouth too wide, and swallowed him as well.

Oh, the two bunnies were devastated. They had lost three brothers in such a short time. They were crying and weeping. They were so sad.

Then Alligator swam up to the rock again.

“Oh, bunnies!” Alligator sighed. “I’m so sorry. I can’t tell you how sorry I am about this. I really wanted to save your brothers. If it makes you feel any better, my tummy is really upset.”

The bunnies didn’t say anything. They just looked away from Alligator.

“Bunnies, look,” said Alligator. “see how my eyes are really far back and to the side? Once I open my mouth, I can’t see what I’m doing, so I just do the best I can. Maybe I overcompensate, but I really tried to help. I’m sorry. I understand if you want to leave and not let me play ball with you.”

The bunnies looked at each other and then at Alligator. They were very trusting bunnies.

“Wait, Alligator!” called out one of the bunnies.

“Hey,” said the other bunny as he grabbed his brother’s arm. “What are you doing? We can’t trust him.”

As Alligator silently looked on, the bunnies spoke.

“He’s not a bad alligator,” said one bunny. “He’s just not having a good day.”

The other looked over to Alligator and agreed.

“OK,” said one bunny to Alligator. “I’ll do it.”

“Great!” exclaimed Alligator. “This time, why don’t you get on my back instead. There’s more room for you to hang on in case I make a quick turn or something.”

So the bunny hopped onto Alligator’s back. Alligator was very careful. They got to the middle of the pond, and then to the far shore.

The bunny left on the shore was relieved to see they had made it safely.

Then suddenly, another alligator lunged out from behind a tree onto Alligator’s back, and snapped his mouth full of teeth onto the bunny’s brother and swallowed him.

“Oh, no!” said the last bunny. “This is horrible.” And he began to cry.

He could see the two Alligators talking on the other shore. Alligator was telling the other one something and pointing to the last bunny on the rock. The second alligator was coughing and gagging. Then that alligator hung his head and looked over to the remaining bunny.

To the bunny’s surprise, both alligators dove into the water and swam across the pond toward the rock.

They both emerged, and the last bunny took a couple of cautious steps away from the edge of the rock.

Alligator spoke first.

“Bunny,” said Alligator. “this is my brother.”

“Bunny?” said Alligator’s brother. “I am so sorry I ate your brother. I saw something on my brother’s back, and I just, well, I didn’t think about it. See, there are these birds that live around here that are constantly bothering us. They jump on our backs and peck at us. They get free rides across the pond, they use us when they are looking for fish to eat, and they’re loud and annoying. I just thought your brother was one of those guys. I’m sorry.”

“It’s an honest mistake,” said Alligator. “I’m so sorry.”

Bunny took a deep breath. Then he smiled a little smile.

“OK,” said Bunny. “I believe you.”

“Oh,” said Alligator’s brother, “It’s so great that you understand. Thanks again for your forgiveness, and sorry for your loss.”

They both turned to go back to the other side of the pond.

“Wait,” said Bunny, “didn’t you guys want to play ball with me?”

The alligators looked at each other and smiled with all their teeth.

They quickly swam back to the shore as Bunny hopped off the rock onto the shore.

“Well,” asked Bunny, “where’s the ball?”

“Well,” said Alligator, “we wanted to play ball with YOU.”

“I don’t understand,” said Bunny.

Suddenly, Alligator’s brother snatched him up by his puffball tail and flicked him over to Alligator, who bounced him with his nose back to his brother.

This went on, back and forth between Alligator and his brother for some time. They were having a great time, laughing and running and jumping. Sometimes they used their tails, and sometimes they missed. They’d make sure Bunny didn’t land in the water.

They finally finished and laid the bruised and sore Bunny close to the rock he had earlier been standing on.

“Thanks,” they both said, and they swam off splashing and hollering.

Bunny was silent. Not because he wanted to be, but because he was hurt and almost couldn’t breathe. He lay there for a while and then mustered up enough strength to stand and slowly hop back home.

When he finally got home, it was dark. Mother bunny had some tea heating in the kettle.

“What happened to you?” she exclaimed. “And where are your brothers?”

He explained everything as best he could.

“Poor Alligator,” she said. “His tummy must be very upset.”

They cried together, they drank some tea, she wrapped him in bandages and they fell asleep.

The next morning, when Bunny woke up, brand new, just born, baby bunnies surrounded him. There were like twelve of them, all hopping and leaping and jumping on top of Bunny.

So for the next eight weeks, while Bunny healed up, he helped Mother Bunny with the babies.

He made sure to tell them not to go to the pond.

The End