The Easter Bunny?

by Henri of Twin Brook

      Raymond Hazelwitz, my rodent activist friend dropped by yesterday as I was digging in the garden. I was preparing the holes for sunflower seed. In summer time, the sunflower seed would grow into flowers which would then produce seeds which would then make my dear friend Shirley, our resident squirrel, very happy. Raymond nibbled on one of the seeds, his sharp teeth easily puncturing the kernel "I like them too," he admitted, tucking another seed into his jacket.

      "Don't eat them all, Raymond," I meowed. "I only have a small bag full."

      "Wouldn't think of it Pussycat," he chortled. He knows I really don't like the name 'Pussycat', but you don't eat a friend just because he calls you a name you don't care about. "I came to tell you about a problem we have in the neighborhood. I thought perhaps, you could help."

      "I certainly will try to help if possible," I purred. "What's the problem?"

      "Well," chattered Raymond, preening his whiskers. "It seems the Easter Bunny had an accident and will be unable to deliver the candy to all the children in the neighborhood......"

      "The Easter Bunny!" I hissed. ."There's no such animal! Shame on you, Raymond!"

      "Oh, Henri!" protested Raymond, baring those exquisitely sharp teeth of his, "there is an Easter Bunny. You just haven't met him yet!"

      I looked at the clock hanging on the side of the house. It was only ten- thirty in the morning and I had time venture forth without being noticed and still plant my sunflower seeds. "Then let's go meet our friend the Easter Bunny, Raymond!"

      "Be my guest, Pussycat!" Raymond bowed deeply and pointed toward the street. It was a lengthy walk before we arrived at the Mister Rabbit's house. I was a bit apprehensive about meeting this creature. "You mean you've never met a rabbit, Henri?" Raymond shook his head in amazement. I thought everybody who was anybody was acquainted with at least one rabbit..."

      "Well, I'm not!" I could hardly control the hurt in my meow. "Don't rub it in, Raymond." Then I was face to face with a rabbit. I could sense my heart beating in my chest!

      The rabbit which seemed to be huge in size, raised its head. "Hullo, my name is Jerome and I'm the local Easter Rabbit for this area."

      "How do you do," I purred, extending my paw. "Raymond and I are here to help you, if we can...."

      "For a rat, Raymond gets things done." The rabbit licked its hind paw which was bandaged. "I got my foot caught in the screen door a few day back and broke my toe. I have about fifty Easter baskets to deliver in the neighborhood . I really could use all the help I can get, fellas."

      "Well, I have an idea," chattered Raymond. "Henri here is a pretty big pussycat. Almost as big a full grown rabbit.....I was thinking that we have enough big kitties in the hood to deliver all the baskets. At night, who would know the difference.....?"

      "Hulloooo!" Jerome puffed up his chest. "A cat is not a rabbit! Anyone looking at those earless creatures would know a cat can't pretend to be a rabbit!"

      I was really crushed by Jerome's outburst. Of course I don't look like a rabbit. Heaven forbid! I began to sulk, waiting for an apology from that big, overgrown bundle of fur. It didn't come....Raymond patted my shoulder. "Jerome isn't himself, Henri. He's always taken great pride in delivering the baskets the night before Easter." He then turned and faced Jerome. "I have a plan. I spoke with my mate, Brenda, yesterday and she said the Rodent Ladies Quilting Society will put aside their quilts and make long ears for the cats to wear on top of their heads. Also they are working on big fluffy tails....I'm not sure exactly how we will manage that, however."

      Jerome perked up his ears and nearly knocked me down, so powerful are those appendages. "Yeah, but you guys don't know the route! How will you know which houses to stop by?" The mammoth ears drooped again.

      With a flourish, Raymond whipped a map from the front pocket of his coat and unfolded it. I drew the map myself! Every proper address is listed. Every human boy and girl will get his or her Easter basket. No child shall be left behind!"

      Jerome sniffed loudly and wiped his nose on his paw. "Gee, that's great guys....I knew I could count on you, Raymond. You always come through for me! You too, Henri..Nice meeting you pussycat."

      On the way home from Jerome's house, my brain was filled with panic. "Raymond, I can't get dressed up like a rabbit! I'll be the laughing stock of Twin brook Road!"

      "Well, you'll be in good company then," chuckled Raymond. "Sebastian is going to help and so is Clarence from Lake Evergreen. Buster is sure he can make it and I even persuaded that wimpy fur bag housemate of yours, Sidney to come along....."

      "Clarence?" I mewed.

      "Yup, tough old Clarence is going to help carry Easter baskets to help out good old Jerome with the broken toe." His eyes glinted in the sunlight. His whiskers quivering with delight. Raymond had asked Sidney, behind my back to participate in the event without asking me first! I felt betrayed!

      Sidney, of course was overjoyed. "I'm going to get dressed up like a bunny rabbit!," he meowed, prancing about the house as if possessed by catnip. "I can't wait! I can't wait," he purred.

      "Just don't fall over your ears and break you neck," I cautioned. I was not looking forward to the big event. The night before our trek into the unknown, Raymond and some of his friends, arrived with the costumes. Clarence, Sebastian, Buster, Butch, Max, Sidney and I all waited patiently as the rabbit ears were distributed among us. I had dragged a mirror out onto the deck so we cats could see what we would look like when dressed. Raymond stood back and surveyed us all.

      "Sidney" he chattered loudly. "you have your ears on backwards.....The pink side faces the front." Raymond shook his head . "That cat is an idiot!" he growled.

      "I look dumb," meowed Clarence, his whiskers drooping. "I look like a dumb cat."

      "You don't look any sillier than the rest of us," I advised, soothingly.

      "Then we all look like a bunch of dumb cats," he meowed, his hoarse voice loud in the still evening air. "I hope no one from the colony sees me dressed like this." We all hoped that no one from anywhere would see us dressed like this. Raymond, however, seemed to be enjoying himself, a wide grin spread across his pointy face.

      Early, Easter morning, before the stars had left the sky, Raymond and his band of merry cats met on the corner of Beldon and Bel Aire. Our costumes and a cart full of baskets, brought there by a fifty our the rodent activists closest friends were waiting for us. Quickly we donned the ears and carefully, very carefully tied the bunny tails onto our own. "This will take a few trips back and forth but we must move quickly," advised our leader. "We really don't want any humans to intercept us on our journey, now do we?"

      "You can say that again," grumbled Clarence. "My ma always said, in case you get hit by a car, always be sure your fur and ears are nice and clean or they will think bad things about you at the cat hospital. If they saw me like this, I don't what they would think..."

      "Try not to dwell on it, Clarence," I mewed softly.

      We stood in line, single file as the baskets were pawed to each of us. Groups of four rats each took a basket. They lifted the baskets above their heads and marched proudly down the street knowing they would be making some human child very happy come morning..I then felt honored to be part of this effort. I lifted my head tall, letting the rabbit ears sway in the soft, early morning breeze. With baskets in paw, we hurried along the dark streets, stopping at the correct address, leaving our treasure on the front porch or the back door and then scurried back to the command post to get another basket and another address. Hours later, when the sun had just begun to crease the horizon with soft, pink hues, we were finished with our work. It was time to go home. Clarence removed his ears and gave them to Raymond. "It wasn't too bad," he grumbled.

      Sidney sat alone, his cries barely audible. "What's wrong with my housemate?" I asked Sebastian.

      Sebastian sighed with exasperation. "He wasn't looking where he was going and he tripped over his rabbit ears and broke his whiskers. They'll grow back...

      Raymond clenched his paws. "That cat is a nincompoop!" he hissed under his breath.

      We gathered together for a final farewell, shook paws, patted each other on the back and hugged. It had, after all, been a wonderful night for every cat and rat in the neighborhood. Raymond thanked us all for coming and helping in Jerome's hour of need.

      When arrived at our door, we found four little baskets waiting on the steps. They were decorated with cat treats and bags of catnip. Sidney stopped crying and read the scrawl on the card which was attached to one of the handles.

YOU CATS DONE GOOD WORK
Jerome, the Easter Bunny