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DannyBoy had everything he needed. As a matter of fact, he heard some people say, mainly grouchy Auntie Edna, that he had ‘too much too much.’ After all, he was ‘just a rabbit.’
When Auntie started on her tirade, and thank the Warren that she only showed up a couple times in a full season, DannyBoy would do something so cute that his real family had no choice but to burst into applause and spontaneous laughter, ignoring her nasty comments.
So much for Auntie Edna.
Biscuit told Danny Boy that Auntie Edna never liked any animals, be they bunnies, cats, like Biscuit, dogs like Snoopy or even turtles like Mandy. Ok, so Mandy was not an animal technically and got offended when DannyBoy or anyone else, called her that. She would icily inform the speaker she was indeed a REPTILE. Auntie Edna lived only to be nasty to all animals and reptiles. She criticized the turtle as being a ‘disease carrier’, Biscuit the cat as needing to be declawed, and Snoopy as being a ‘fat indulged fur carpet.’ For DannyBoy, however, she saved her worst tirade and would often pull his tail or ears when nobody was looking.
But otherwise, for DannyBoy, life was good. In DannyBoy’s world, every morning, at precisely 7:00 AM on the snout, Janey brought him a wonderful bowl of fresh salads. Salads plural, indeed, because inside that marvelous ceramic bowl of goodness was always an exotic mix of basil, cilantro, rose hips, dandelion greens, celery and carrots tops, beet stalks, and even occasionally the bit of oatmeal. While DannyBoy ate that, whilst sitting on his chair at the table, Janey cleaned his litter box, loaded his hay feeder, poured fresh water from the big blue globe in the kitchen, and gave him exactly a red cup of pellets.
DannyBoy especially loved that morning routine. After he ate, and he took his time sifting through the selection in his bowl, Julieanne would always come in and pet him first, paying close attention to his ears, dress him, and then take him downstairs to the big room where he jumped over hoops to make Julieanne squeal in happiness.
Biscuit and Snoopy sometimes hung out to watch and DannyBoy always flexed his bunny haunches to practically fly over the strategically placed rails.
After exercise, Julieanne always took DannyBoy out in his own buggy, monogrammed on the front with his name, and he munched on hay as she pushed him around the yard.
His wardrobe was impeccable; Julieanne bought him real doll clothes and dressed him in suits, ties, long shirts, and even leather like jackets with a backpack attached. DannyBoy was very proud of the way he looked and when he was outside in the soft warm breeze, sniffing the smells and listening to the other animals chatting, he felt quite like royalty.
On one such day, after he’d eaten and entertained by playing with a ball and stacking measuring cups, Julieanne dressed him in a brilliant blue onesie with a picture of a sailboat on it and placed him in the buggy. There he was, a soft warm small bunny with a blonde spot on his rump and another between his ears, all curled up in his own blankie with a goodly amount of fresh hay to eat.
DannyBoy waited as Julieanne spoke with her father, saying something about a tree.
A tree?
A tree in the house?
And did Julieanne want one for DannyBoy?
DannyBoy thought about that one. He had no use for a tree in the house unless it was an apple tree, one with low juicy branches to nibble and chew. Maybe it was an apple tree? He listened with interest to what they said.
“I just thought a little pine Bough in a pot would be nice in his room. You and he could decorate it. Maybe make some chains from construction paper and a little plaster cast of his paw to hang on the tree.”
Mr. Kelly was always so kind and thoughtful of his daughter, and in turn Julieanne was also kind and thoughtful.
“Oh Daddy! That sounds perfect! Yes please. DannyBoy and I would like a tree and I can put his presents under it.” She clapped her hands and scooted out the door with her father.
Presents?
DannyBoy loved presents! He’d received some for what they called his birth day and even opened them himself, the paper being no match for sharp bunny nails and teeth! So there was another day to get presents? Dannyboy was so excited he tried to thump but did not succeed because he was in the cozy confines of the buggy.
“Here now! What is this?”
DannyBoy hunkered down when he saw who was speaking as she approached the buggy.
The woman, the dreaded and feared Auntie Edna peered over her spectacles and into the buggy.
“Goodness knows why you even need to be in there, you smelly animal! If it were up to me, I’d give you to the butcher and he’d make you into a nice stew with carrots and parsnips! Come here! I’ll take you there myself!” Auntie Edna reached for DannyBoy and he did the only thing he knew how to do to protect himself— he nipped her.
“Ahhhhhh!” She screamed. DannyBoy tried to cover his ears with the blanket; she was loud!!
“You’ve bitten me! A good chunk of my finger is gone!”
“Edna, what on earth are you screaming about?” Chin Ho, Julieanne’s father asked. He glanced at the bunny in the buggy and went off to attend to the screaming woman who’d added a loud crying to her dialogue.
“That… that… horrible vile creature bit me! He chomped his teeth on me when I was just trying to adjust his blanket to keep him warm!”
Lies! The woman was telling lies! She had been trying to grab him! DannyBoy stood up with his paws on the side of the buggy. Surely Chin would not believe that!!
“It IS bleeding,” Chin said with a sigh. “We can’t have you attacking people, DannyBoy. There will be no walks today. You’ll have to stay in your room and think about how naughty you have been.” Chin pushed the buggy back to DannyBoy’s room. He did not look mad though and if DannyBoy was reading the young father’s face correctly, Chin was on DannyBoy’s side.
“It bit me, Chin! You’ll have to get rid of it! I need to go get a rabies test!” Edna began to cry as she held up her finger for Chin’s wife, Malia, who was a registered nurse, to see.
“Oh Auntie, I definitely think you’ll be fine. Let’s go wash it off and I’ll put a bandaid on it.” Malia ushered the older woman to the kitchen as Chin watched. He turned to DannyBoy and with a sympathetic expression, patted DannyBoy’s head.
“Stay here. I’ll deal with her. Let’s take you out of there though.” DannyBoy allowed Chin to lift him up and place him near his castle, complete with drawbridge. “You play inside today.”
DannyBoy was alone for what seemed forever. He heard the hustle and bustle and smelled the pine tree being brought into the house. He wanted Julieanne to explain the reasoning behind a tree but he thought it might have something to do with Christmas. And presents!
DannyBoy hoped he would still get presents! He’d like a new car to ride in, some toys to chew and a fluffy robe thing like Julieanne wore. He was deeply in thought about what kinds of things he would get that he did not notice it was Edna who’d come in until she had him by the scruff of the neck! Oh and that hurt plus she was dangling him high above the floor!
“You little bastard! It’s goodbye to you!” She kept a hold on DannyBoy and looked around, listening. “They’ll never know where you went! And I’m not telling them!”
Edna scurried out of the house, the bunny hidden in the folds of her coat. She walked quickly down the street, her grasp on DannyBoy firm and painful, so he could not escape. Where were they going? This could not be good!
Steven saw the woman practically throw the small bunny out of her coat and on to the ground, then turn and walk quickly away leaving the stunned rabbit on his side.
Steven couldn’t believe that any self respecting rabbit would wear what this bunny was wearing and cautiously, the big black wild hare hopped over to where the kit lay.
“Hail bunny!” Steven said. He tried to nudge the bunny in the blue suit but the bunny did not respond, though Steven thought it was playing dead. “I suppose I have nothing better to do then but to Mount you and deposit my—“
DannyBoy scrambled up, feet at the ready to fight!
“Oh please! Just leave me alone you hooligan!” DannyBoy said.
The big black hare with the white tipped ears had the audacity to laugh, throwing his head back as he chuckled.
“Oh so you were playing possum!” Steven said. He sniffed at the clothing the young rabbit was wearing. “What in the name of Tu'er Ye is that? Don’t you get it poopy?”
“I do NOT!” DannyBoy said indignantly! “I wear clothing like a civilized bunny, something I see that you do not.”
“I’m not civilized,” Steven said. “And perhaps you have noticed, you aren’t in those brick and wooden structures any longer—“
“They are called a HOUSE,” Danny interrupted him. “And I belong in one!”
“Oh yeah? Which one? Huh?” Steven sat back, amused at the way the young rabbit was carrying on.
“I’ll know it when I see it.” DannyBoy turned around and hopped to the edge of the walk. He looked up the wide strip of concrete, but had no idea which house he actually lived in or where he was.
“I’m waiting,” Steven smirked.
“It’s one of those I’m sure!” DannyBoy said. He was scared now, thinking that perhaps Edna had taken him so far he’d never get home.
“Yes but which one? I’m Steven by the way. And you are?”
“I am?” DannyBoy looked confused.
“Your name! What’s your name?” Steven asked.
“My name is DannyBoy.” DannyBoy sat up a bit taller and used his front paw to smooth down the fur around his neck. Julieanne always kept it trimmed up so nicely when she brushed his fur.
Steven snorted and rolled his eyes.
“What? I suppose Steven is a better name? Perhaps we all should be called Steven?”
DannyBoy didn’t have a chance to continue because suddenly, Steven was pushing DannyBoy towards a hedge and inside the spiky branches, effectively hiding both of them.
“What are you—-“
“Shhhhh.” Steven covered DannyBoy with his own body, mounting the smaller rabbit but not in a sexual way. “Not a sound.”
The reason they were hiding came soon enough for they both heard the hound’s baying bark. DannyBoy had never heard Snoopy make this sound. Usually the small white dog with the black spots would just issue a sharp bark once or twice. This bark, though, was scary and DannyBoy couldn’t help it. He started to tremble.
Steven felt the little bunny shake and licked Danny’s ears to reassure him. They were safe under the hedge because the big dog could not find them there.
“Honestly, Alvin, you act like you’re on the trail of something!” They heard a human lady say.
The dog bayed again and pulled the lady along.
A snout, sniffing and breathing hard poked under the hedge, mere feet from where the two bunnies huddled.
“Come on Alvin! We have to buy that Christmas goose at the butcher’s!” And with that, the dog was gone, pulled away with a mighty yank from the owner.
“Get off me!” DannyBoy shook Steven so he slid to the side.
“I guess you’re right,” Steven said casually.
“Of course I’m right!” DannyBoy licked his front paw and arranged his whiskers. “Right about what?”
“You don’t get your fancy suit dirty when you poop!” Steven stood beside a small pile of bunny poop, obviously DannyBoy’s doing since he was so scared.
“You are disgusting!” DannyBoy hopped out on the concrete and started towards where he thought he lived. But the truth was, he had no clue and that terrified him. It was also getting dark outside, and he always slept with a nightlight, never in the dark.
“Where are you going?” Steven called out after him.
“Home.”
“Ok see ya! But be careful of the owl. He hunts around this time!” Steven called out as DannyBoy hopped away.
An owl? What the pellet was an owl???
DannyBoy stopped as he heard the baying of the hound getting closer. He looked back at where Steven waited, as though expecting him to return.
“Ok you win.” DannyBoy said with a sigh. “Wait! What’s an owl?” He ran after Steven who was heading through the hedge. “Steven! Wait!!
DannyBoy darted under the hedge and ran right into the bigger bunny who was sitting, obviously waiting.
“What’s an owl?”
“An owl is a flying terror, with sharp sharp claws and a razor beak! An owl clutches you with those awful claws and carries you over the hills to her nest! After she dumps you in her nest, she starts picking you apart down to your BONES!” Steven said, leaning forward so he was less than an inch from DannyBoy’s face.
DannyBoy jumped back with wide eyes and swallowed hard. He did not want to meet any owl that’s for sure! He wondered frantically if Julieanne was missing him! How come they weren’t out looking for him?
“Suit yourself.” Steven hopped away towards the copse of big shadow casting trees in the distance.
“Wait! Ok wait I’m coming!” DannyBoy hoped after Steven, hard pressed to keep up with the long hops of the leggy hare.
It seemed like they hopped a mile or the equivalent from the kitchen to the main room in DannyBoy’s house before they reached another hedge, this one wild and overgrown.
Steven slid his body into a hole partly covered with leaves and disappeared.
“Steven?” DannyBoy peered down the hole but could not see anything. With a deep breath, the small rabbit followed Steven down the bunny hole.
“Father? I cannot find DannyBoy!” Julieanne climbed up on her father’s lap and snuggled close. “I’m scared he might have gone off somewhere in the house because you yelled at him for nipping stupid Auntie.”
“DannyBoy needs to know right from wrong, Jules,” Chin soothed his little girl. “Did you look for him? In his tunnel? Under the bed? By the pantry cupboard?”
“All of those places and more besides.” Julieanne’s big brown eyes started to fill with tears. “Mommy thinks Auntie did something to him! While our backs were turned!”
Chin did not want to admit it but that’s exactly what he was thinking too.
“Why don’t you go look for him again and have a banana with you? That will bring him out of hiding, I’m sure of it,” Chin said, hugging his daughter gently.
“Ok!” She jumped off his lap and ran to the kitchen, a plan in her head so she would be distracted and not worry so much.
But Chin WAS worried!
Edna had no sense of humour and hated the rabbit. Could she have been so mean to … kill DannyBoy? Surely not that mean!
Chin decided to look in the kitchen for the bunny. Perhaps DannyBoy was just licking his ego and pouting.
“Steven? Are you… are you here?” DannyBoy hesitated. It was warm in the burrow under the ground and his senses were assaulted by Steven’s scent. It was not a terrible scent but DannyBoy felt like he did not belong here.
“Boo!” Steven said behind DannyBoy causing the young bunny to jump straight up in the air. “Oh look you binkied! Oh and you pooped again.”
“Stop it!” DannyBoy felt the tears coming. He was hungry and cool and he hated pooping outside his nice blue litter pan with the nice smelling litter. Steven was teasing him and he did not like it.
“I’m sorry. Hey, I’m sorry ok?” Steven hopped closer and DannyBoy hopped back. “Don’t be like that. I apologize. I’m not used to…. Company.”
DannyBoy blinked the tears away and slowly approached Steven. “Please don’t scare me. I don’t know where I am. Back home, I have a beautiful bed all for me with a pillow and blanket and fresh litter daily and salad in my bowl! I get brushed and get my nails painted and a banana slice at night!”
“What’s a… ba…. Nana… banana on!? “ Steven asked.
“Ohhhhh it’s a magical treat!” DannyBoy says wistfully. “Sweet and soft and yellow!”
“Do you eat it?” Steven asked, intrigued.
“Of course you do, silly. You eat it and it makes you hum.”
“Hum?” Steven thumped once. “I hate singing.”
“Why? I love to sing. Julieanne likes it too. She pets me and I sing to her.”
“I don’t want to hear any singing,” Steven said abruptly. “Come on. Let’s head this way. I just found some soft grass for a bed. It’s not the Ritz, kid, but it will do.”
“What’s the Ritz?” DannyBoy asked.
“You are full of questions,” Steven sighed and led the way through the well crafted Maze of his burrow.
“I cannot find him! He’s not here!” Julieanne burst into tears. She’d looked everywhere, even in places DannyBoy would have never gone but no trace of him.
“It’s late. Past your bedtime.” Chin tapped his watch. “We can look for him more tomorrow. Come on, my Princess.” Chin picked up the crying child and shrugged as he passed Malia in the hallway. They both knew that if Edna had done something to the innocent rabbit, there would be no consoling their daughter.
DannyBoy was impressed when Steven admitted to digging out the maze of tunnels leading to a cozy central area. It was warm here though not as warm as DannyBoy was used to. Still it was a far cry better than being outside with the unknown owl and the baying hound. Steven hopped over to a mound of fresh grass and some tubers.
“Come eat,” he said simply.
DannyBoy hesitated but followed along because his stomach was empty. Carefully, he pulled a blade of grass over to eat it and chewed. Not bad. It was just very slippery to try to eat.
“Good huh?” Steven asked with a full mouth, turning towards DannyBoy.
DannyBoy nodded, watching as Steven chewed and shredded his tubers. He was hesitant to eat a lot lest he get tummy troubles. He remembered once when he did get sick and Chin Ho had to give him medicine in a syringe until he burped a lot and did his business in the litter box. There was nobody here to hold him and feed him the sweet medicine and if he ate and could not go to the bathroom he would die.
The enormity of his plight hit him like a freight train.
DannyBoy hunched next to the pile of tubers as Steven ate, sitting through to select what he liked. The outfit DannyBoy wore felt constricting and he tried to reach around to undo the snaps in the back but he could not reach them.
“What are you doin?” Steven asked.
“Nothing.” DannyBoy lay down on his empty belly.
“Do you want to get rid of that ridiculous whatever it is?” Steven asked. He hopped over and before Danny could respond, Steven pulled the snaps open with his teeth so the sailor suit fell off DannyBoy, pooling around his prone body. “Oh you are so pretty without those dumb clothes!” Steven said, eyes sweeping over DannyBoy’s body.
“Stop,” DannyBoy said softly.
“M’ok. I’m going back to eating.” Steven hopped over to his greens and started in again, though he kept side eyeing DannyBoy. Finally, he stopped eating. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” DannyBoy turned on his side and closed his eyes. Despite the events of the day, he was tired and oh so weary so he let himself fall into the dark abyss of sleep.
Steven emerged from his burrow and blinked into the dusky morning. The sun was not up yet but that was when he did his best foraging. He had done a bit of housekeeping during the night, letting his guest sleep, so at least DannyBoy had a private place to do his business.
And now for some food.
Steven hopped over to the remnants of the human’s garden where he’d found the tubers. He was taking a chance but in his 2 years on earth he had taken a lot of chances and though some had not turned out so well, he was still alive and hopping.
Sharing a burrow with another bunny was strange, Steven had to admit. Oh he’d had a couple dalliances and he was pretty sure there might be some black kits with big ears running around somewhere but establishing a relationship? Nope. Not for him. But DannyBoy was pleasing to look at with his brown velvety coat, pink inner ears and big blue eyes.
DannyBoy is a sissy, Steve told himself. Just try and get him back home wherever that was.
“Steven?”
Steven stopped and turned around, surprised to see the little rabbit out of the burrow.
“Go back inside! It’s not safe!”
“You’re out here. Ooooooo I smell carrots!” DannyBoy dug at a small furrow in the garden.
“Help me, Steven! There are carrots in here!”
“What’s a carrot?” Steven asked.
“They are crunchy and sweet too! Here. I’ll pull one up.” DannyBoy latched on to a fringe top of the root vegetable and backed up, using his back legs to square himself. “He’p me!” DannyBoy ordered between clenched teeth.
Steven grabbed hold of the top and gave a yank. The carrot popped out, flew over their heads and fell on to the ground behind them. DannyBoy eagerly ran over and took a small bite. It was not washed but he was hungry and the carrot smelled so good!
“Mmmmmmmmmm!!” DannyBoy licked his lips. “Bite it, Steven!”
“A carrot huh? Ok. I will… “ Steven took a deep breath. “Here goes.” He closed his eyes and took a nibble. Once he tasted it, his eyes flew open. “Son of a Possum, that’s good!!”
“Told you,” DannyBoy bumped Steven with his head.
“Let’s eat it here!” Steven said.
“Let’s!” DannyBoy agreed.
The 2 rabbits made short work of the carrot, tops and all, and they worked together to remove 2 more from the dirt to take back to the burrow. DannyBoy didn’t think this was really so bad, this life, though he really missed his human friends and his soft bed.
“Ok, Alvin will be coming back soon for his morning walk so let’s jump home with our carrots. We can come out later.” Steven hopped towards the burrow but DannyBoy still sat by the garden. “Are you coming?”
“I… want to try to find my home.” DannyBoy said.
Steven twitched his ears and looked around. “Find your home huh? Too good to stay with me? Or do you miss those ridiculous clothes!?”
“It’s not that! But I miss Julieanne and her parents! I miss my bed and castle! And it’s not your business if I like my clothes or not!” DannyBoy said with a frown.
“House bunny. Ha, they are probably grooming you for the stew pot!” Steven leaned back against the carrots.
“Say what you want! At least I don’t live in a smelly house!” DannyBoy sat on his haunches and twitched his nose.
“Smelly? It wasn’t smelly until you peed in it! Geez, kid, you’re all about the poop and pee! Do me a favour then! Stay out! I don’t want you! Stupid house bunny!” Steven turned and knocked the carrots down the hole.
“Fine with me! You don’t even have a pedigree!” DannyBoy yelled back. He was just ready to turn towards the street when Steven pushed him, hard, so he fell forward.
“Sissy. Baby. Pussy. House Bunny! Poopy pants!” Steven taunted.
DannyBoy slowly stood up and turned to face Steven. The hare was a lot bigger than he was and probably knew how to fight. But there was always the element of surprise. Launching at Steven, he not only bit Steven on the forepaw but butted him, knocking him over.
“I don’t like you,” DannyBoy said, hopping off towards the sidewalk.
Steven sat stunned. The bunny had surprised him but his paw hurt where DannyBoy had bit him. Dammit! He really hadn’t wanted to fight with the kit.
The sun was just starting to rise so Steven hopped back towards his burrow. Alvin would be coming as sure as the sun rose, and Steven hoped DannyBoy was not on the sidewalk when the bloodhound came through. The dog would no doubt rip the bunny apart.
Damn.
Steven paused and sighed.
Damn that rabbit!
He left the carrots where they were and turned around to find the kit.
DannyBoy kept to the sides of the yards as he ventured down the street. He was so small that the high grass obscured him and he tried to ignore the uppity spiders who were giving him the looks as he hopped by and disturbed them. As he looked around, he thought of his family—Julieanne, Chin Ho, Malia and Janey the housekeeper. He missed them and he hoped that wherever they were, they missed him too.
He sniffed as Steven hopped up beside him.
“When you say mean things, you apologize!” DannyBoy said.
“Yeah I mean yeah I’m sorry.”
“You don’t wait for a special occasion like a birth day of presents but you say you are sorry!!” DannyBoy continued.
“I’m sorry I said I’m sorry like three sunrises ago when this first started ok?”
DannyBoy looked at Steve out of the corner of his eye. “Fine. Apology heard. Acceptance is pending.”
“You let me know now,” Steven answered. “Oh! Alvin again! Quick, under the porch of this house!” Steven hopped past the evergreen shrub, pushing DannyBoy ahead of him.
Sure enough, Alvin was approaching, sniffing and baying as only a hound does. The 2 rabbits were safe under the porch and as the dog and his human walked by, Steven emerged and thumped once so the dog would catch his scent. Of course, the human became impatient and scolded the dog, keeping both her and the dog walking on.
“Quit daring that dog to come for you!” DannyBoy reprimanded. He gave Steven a quick look and started off down the yard towards the next house.
“Do you care what happens to me?” Steven asked.
“No,” DannyBoy answered but he was smiling.
“I see that! Looks like a smile!” Steven licked Danny’s head and ear.
“Stop! We need to be diligent!” DannyBoy scolded.
They hopped along then in silence, listening and looking constantly in case something would try to attack them.
Just as DannyBoy was going to give up, he saw his house!
Yes! There it was! The house with the dark blue shutters, as Malia called them! This was home oh yes his home!!!
“Come with me,” DannyBoy said as he stopped at the front sidewalk. “You can live in my room and eat banana. You don’t have to wear clothing but you can get brushed and have your nails trimmed and painted! There will be a nice litter box and you don’t have to hide either!”
Steven squinted at the structure. He’d never had a family before and he was not sure he wanted one. Nobody was going to dress him up and make him a sissy! Even if he was attracted to the young bunny.
“This is goodbye, DannyBoy. You have your world and I have mine. Go get dressed. See ya around!” Steven turned so DannyBoy would not see the tears that were slowly gathering in his eyes.
“Steven! Please! I worry about you!” DannyBoy called out at Steven’s retreating figure.
“Later, kid! I’m a lone act! I don’t need a family!” Steven answered.
DannyBoy bowed his head.
He liked Steven, in spite of how much Steven teased him. And he was worried about the dog and the owl and the people who hated rabbits!
“DannyBoy!!!!” Malia screamed as she opened the door to get the mail. She raced down the steps and scooped up DannyBoy, holding him close to her. DannyBoy pressed against her and breathed in the familiar scent and warmth of the human woman. He was home!!!
Steven nosed at the remaining carrot. It had been 2 sunrises since DannyBoy had gone home. Not that it mattered, Steven thought fiercely. Who cared about an underdeveloped clothes wearing sissy anyways?! Steven always lived alone and hunted alone and enjoyed his alone time. He didn’t need a dinky bunny singing a song or pooping when he was scared! Nope. He was good. All was fine.
So lost in his thoughts was he that he failed to notice the shadow that loomed over him and the extended claws that reached out to grab him!
When the owl struck, Steven felt the claws Pierce his skin and he nearly passed out from the pain!
“Do not try to get away! You are my dinner you fine rabbit!” Hissed the owl.
Steven struggled against the claws, bringing up his foot and turning his head to bite one of the owl’s legs. With a screech, the owl opened its claws and dropped him on to the grass where he rolled over and over again, the pain blinding him. Steven closed his eyes and passed out.
“Momma!!!! Momma!!!! Come quick come quick!!”
DannyBoy had seen Steven fall out of the flying demon’s claws and to the front yard. He and Julieanne were looking for acorns to paint and hang on their little tree in the bunny’s bedroom. Malia had just stepped up on the porch to get another blanket for DannyBoy’s buggy when the hare hit the ground. DannyBoy thumped as best he could and looked out of the buggy, standing up as he tried to convey to his humans that someone should help Steven!!
“Oh no it’s a bunny!” Malia said. “The poor thing. Looks like he needs some stitches but the vet is closed for the holidays.” She took a deep breath. She could not keep the bunny out in the yard where it would be eaten or attacked by another animal.
“Momma! Maybe it’s DannyBoy’s friend! Look! He’s watching!” Julieanne said.
“You’re right.” Malia bent and placed Steven in the blanket she had originally brought for DannyBoy. “Honey, let me put this bunny in the buggy with DannyBoy and you go ahead and open the door for me.”
“Yes Mommy!” Julieanne ran on the porch and reached up for the door handle as Malia carefully placed Steven in the buggy with DannyBoy.
“Steven! Steven!!! Oh do be alright! Please be alright!” DannyBoy nudged him and licked Steven’s ears and face. “Wake up. Please wake up.”
“D-D-D-DannyBoy?”
“Steven!!! Steven there you are! It’s ok. Malia will fix you.”
Steven lay back and let his aching body relax into the blanket.
“There.” Malia stepped back and smiled to herself. Thankfully, the rabbit was responding well to her efforts to keep him alive. She’d stitched his one open wound and applied antibiotics so it would not get infected. He was clean, warm and she had administered the syringes for pain moderation. You’re lovely,” she cooed as she stroked Steven’s head.
“Mommy? Can DannyBoy see his friend? He’s hopping around but can’t see up there!”
“Better yet,” Malia said, “I’ll place his friend in the bed and we can make up another bed for DannyBoy. Come on. Let’s go put them in the bedroom.”
“Come on DannyBoy!” Malia said. She gently carried Steven into DannyBoy’s room and placed the wounded hare on the bed. “There you are sweet thing. You’ll feel better in the morning.”
DannyBoy waited until Malia and Julieanne made a bed for him too and hopped over to Steven after they’d said good night to him.
Gently, DannyBoy licked Steven and patted his fur.
“I should have told you I accept your apologies. And I missed you. Just you wait until Christmas which is 4 days away! You can open presents with me because I’m sure they will give you something!” DannyBoy lay on his bed and kept a paw on Steven. “Rest well you big goofball.”
Christmas Day was spectacular! DannyBoy and Steven got fresh blueberries, carrot and beet tops and basil for breakfast! Julieanne dressed Danny in a little Santa coat while Steven wore a hat.
“I told you Christmas was going to be special! I told you! Do you like it so far?” DannyBoy asked.
Steven, who had recovered well and was almost ready to get his stitches out, hopped over to where DannyBoy was nosing around the toys they’d already received. Present opening was later that day and DannyBoy knew that Steven had received his own castle for the bedroom. Malia and Chin were happy and relieved that the present had come on time.
“I know a secret!” DannyBoy teased. Steven mounted DannyBoy, licking his head and ears, comfortable in their closeness.
“A secret isn’t a secret any more if you tell,” Steven said.
“You only know that because you listened to Malia. You have big ears,” Steven muttered.
“YOU have big ears! Yours are the biggest!” DannyBoy teased.
The 2 bunnies lay together, their friendship and love growing with every minute. It was the perfect rest before the big holiday dinner where each of them would get a third of a banana in their dinner bowls.
In the end, they both got what they wanted for Christmas.
Although Steven received a castle with a drawbridge and fancy flags on top and DannyBoy got a car so he could ride in it, the biggest and best presents weren’t anything they unwrapped.
For you see, for one black hare with white tips on his long ears, a home was what Santa brought him.
And for a little brown spoiled bunny, Santa had shown him the gift of friendship and love.
It was after all not the clothes or the hay or the banana in the bowl, but it was the gift of a companion who adored him and who he could adore.
Merry Christmas everyone!!!