Easter has recently been and gone, so I am a bit late with the bunny stories, but hey ho! Meet Cookie, the family rabbit. And I will tell you a story from South America, about rabbits, and how they lost their tails.
How the Rabbit Lost His Tail
Were you aware bunnies didn't always have cute cotton ball tails? No! Well it is true. Once upon a time, longer than most can remember, rabbits had long tails like cats, and cats had no tail at all.
Now Cat was envious of Rabbit's tale, and wanted it for himself. While rabbit slept, Cat crept up with a sharp knife, and cut Rabbit's tail clean off. Cat acted quickly, and deftly sewed Rabbit's tail where Cat had none.
When Rabbit awoke, and noticed the theft, Cat said "Rabbit look how much better your tail looks on me". Rabbit being a care free kind of fellow, agreed, and said "Cat you can keep my tail in exchange for your knife." That seemed fair, and Cat agreed.
The two parted company, and Rabbit hopped into the forest, without a tail but now with a knife. He could use the knife, to cut off a new tail for himself.
Soon Rabbit came across a man, making baskets. The willow was tough; the man had only his hands and teeth, to cut it with. Spotting Rabbit's knife the man said "Rabbit please let me use your knife? This willow is so tough, it hurts my hands and teeth." Rabbit being a generous fellow lent the man his knife. But, like the man said the willow was tough, and when the man tried to cut it the blade snapped off its handle. "Oh no!" Cried Rabbit. "How will I get a new tail now?" The man apologised. "I'm sorry Rabbit for breaking your knife, here have a basket instead." The man gave Rabbit a basket, in exchange for the broken knife. The pair said goodbye, and parted company.
Rabbit hopped deeper into the forest. He had lost his tail and gained a knife, the knife broke but was replaced with a basket; he would surely find a new tail.
Soon, Rabbit came across an old woman, picking lettuce. She was putting them into her apron, but was running out of space. Spotting Rabbit's basket the woman asked if she could borrow it, to put her lettuce in. Rabbit agreed, and lent the old woman his basket. But the wight of all her lettuce, caused the bottom of the basket to fall out. "Oh no!" Cried Rabbit. "What shall I do? My basket is broken." The old woman apologised. "I'm sorry Rabbit for breaking your basket, here have some lettuce instead." Now Rabbit liked lettuce and hadn't yet eaten his breakfast. So Rabbit accepted the old woman's apology, exchanging the broken basket for some lettuce.
Rabbit had lost his tail and gained a knife, lost a knife and gained a basket, lost a basket and gained some lettuce.
Rabbit stopped to eat breakfast, which he enjoyed so much, he no longer cared about his lost tail. So that is the story about how Rabbit's lost their tails, and instead, gained a love for lettuces.
One random piece of information for you: iceberg lettuce isn't good for rabbits. It contains harmful nitrates, has little nutritional value, without enough fibre to produce healthy gut bacteria causing bloat. True fact!
Acknowledgements to Rebecca Hall for her photographs of Cookie the rabbit.
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