The Northfield Rambler

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Henry & Mama Terrorize the Rabbit

Tonight, as Henry and I peered out his bedroom window to check on the blueberry bush (our nightly ritual), we spotted a rabbit in my garden - not near the recently planted crops, but at the other end.  I flipped - weirdly - seeing as how I know her family is living under our shed.  But, I like to pretend that she doesn't pay attention to my garden, and I believe that she gives it a wide berth, respecting her place and my boundary.  Clearly, that is not the case.  I asked Henry, without thinking it through, whether or not he wished to go outside with me.  He, having no idea what was to come next, quickly agreed.  We shot through the house as if there were rockets attached to our backs, went out back, at which point I scooped him up in my arms and ran away from the house as if it were on fire - barefoot - to the garden.  There the rabbit was, terrified - and I began to hiss.  The rabbit was inspired, and darted for the fence - and barely got through - at which point I began to rethink my situation, hoping - no, praying - that she would get through.  She did - thank God -  and Henry and I returned to the house.  We got in, I closed the door, and turned to see a startled, shaken looking boy. 

"What's wrong?  Henry, are you ok?" 
He informed me that he had been afraid that we were going to get close to her and she was going to bite us.
(We hadn't gotten close at all to her, by the way.)  I sat down on the floor, now rethinking everything that had just transpired as my little boy crumpled into my lap.  I promised him that the rabbit wouldn't bite us, that he was right that we shouldn't get close to her, and then confessed, that in fact, I like rabbits, but didn't want her to eat my lettuce, and that maybe - maybe? - I'd overreacted.  A little.  He suggested that we "never do that again".  And so we won't.

1 Comments:

  • At 9:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    So here's the thing.....we don't chase rabbits! That is like trying to shake salt on the tail of a robin....or going on a Snipe Hunt, or looking for Jackalopes. Hard to be successful. Well, you must have been a sight, angry gardener ala. Mr McGregor (cf Peter Rabbit) defending his lettuce with Berber in her arms charging hither and yon around the yard hissing and hooting at that poor bunny. Berber was right, and his advice should be heeded, "Let's not do that again!"

     

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