When we first moved to Colorado Springs, the kids and I squeezed ourselves into a 600 square foot apartment. It was our first “starter home” being out on our own. I couldn’t afford much but I could manage a two-bedroom one bath with boys in one room and girls in another. At bedtime, I’d sit in my corner with my daughter sound asleep at the other end of the room, and I’d read or I’d write. I was as quiet as a mouse and kept the lights dim.
So it was understandable I second guessed myself the night I saw a quick movement out of the corner of my eye. At first I thought I was imagining things and went back to my book. But there it was again! Something darted across the room and went under the dresser as quick as a bunny.
By golly, It WAS a bunny!
I whispered out loud, “There’s a bunny in our bedroom!” Then louder, “There’s a BUNNY in our bedroom!!!” Finally I shouted, “WHO BROUGHT A DAMNED RABBIT INTO THE HOUSE?!?”
Like a flash, I had all three kids in my room jumping up and down and screaming, “It’s a bunny, it’s a bunny!” And of course the more they screamed and ran around, the more that poor rabbit flew frantically from under one piece of furniture to another. And you know they can flatten themselves down and squeeze behind just about anything.
We finally found the little varmint but it made a dash for the door with all three kids chasing it down the hall into our tiny living room. I ran for the broom, thinking I could catch it that way.
Silly girl! You can’t catch a rabbit with a broom. Just like you can’t catch a fish with your hands, so I’ve been told. But I was giving it my best.
Round and round the living room we went, chasing that cute little critter. Then my oldest had a brilliant idea and opened the apartment door. That’s right. Let the neighbors in on the fun. They’ll love us for it.
Out the rabbit hopped into the hallway looking like a Walt Disney character panting in sheer desperation with each one of my pajama clad kids in hot pursuit.
We violated quiet hours big time that night. But finally Mom came to the rescue with her handy dandy broom and herded that baby bunny down the apartment hallway. Three kids shrieking with joy drew a few unhappy faces from various apartments. But that little creature did the smart thing and made a dash through the open door and out into the night.
“Fun’s over gang,” I said. “Back to bed.”
I herded them back to the apartment where we had a major “come to Jesus” meeting. “I want to know who brought a bunny into our apartment?” I asked, looking down at three flushed faces still wound up after their evening excitement. They got a big kick out of seeing mom chasing a rabbit around in her nightgown with a broom.
One pair of big blue eyes met mine, then looked down at the floor. He couldn’t help it. He was grinning like crazy and proud as a peacock. He said, “I did, Mom.”
“Brett, where did you find the rabbit?”
“I chased him around in circles when I was out working with Clyde, then I finally caught him and put him in my lunch bag,” he said. “Clyde said I’d never be able to catch him, but I did when he wasn’t watching.”
Poor kid. I didn’t have enough money to buy him a real toy. He had to go and chase down a live one out on the plains.
I couldn’t be mad at him. It made for a fun evening and something none of us will ever forget. It’s all great story material and I’m just glad it wasn’t a baby skunk.