Rabbit

"Listen, Rabbit. Do you remember spring last year when you were telling stories here? And how when mummy called me home, You fell and lay there all alone? We searched the wood, we searched the park, we searched and searched till it got dark. We couldn't find you. And how next day beneath the tree, the baby foxes came to see the funny creature sitting there with button eyes and tufty hair, just waiting.

Long and lonely days went by, the sun grew bigger in the sky, and soon the seeds that spring had sown had into summer flowers grown. Poor rabbit. But then those foxes came again. Bigger now they played a game. In August, in the morning haze, You watched the farmer's field ablaze. While the little mice read helter-skelter, Looking for a place to shelter. Poor things.

The flowers died, the summer passed, the nights were drawing in so fast. The tree grew tired, the leaves turned brown. The squirrels scampered up and down, collecting for winter. Then there came that blustery day, when you were nearly blown away. Listen Rabbit, I remember how hard it rained that september. You didn't have (it made me cry) a mackintosh to keep you dry. I hadn't forgotten you. And when it snowed I couldn't rest (you didn't have your winter vest.) The snowflakes flew and blew all over, and wrapped you in an icy cover, while we were warm inside.

But then a fox now fully grown, decided you should be at home. Do you remember Rabbit?

Remember how I laughed and cried to have my rabbit safe inside. I never will forget you see, the day that you came home to me."

Rabbit by Alison Catley

This was one of my favourite stories when I was little.