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| Matilda Making a Hop for Adventure |
Howdy, friends. The name’s Chester.
I am a pecan connoisseur, a country music lover and a squirrel about town. I see things. I read situations, and let me
tell you, we have had some happenings around here today! It’s a tale of
adventure, a tale of betrayal, and a tale of romance all rolled into one. Think
Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town meets Save the Last Dance for Me. Wait, maybe
it’s “Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places” meets “I Hope You Dance”. No, maybe
it’s a…what? Oh yeah, back to my story. It all began last week…
She could feel her heart beating in
her chest. It was a mixture of both fear and the exertion from digging. She was
certain Helen was on to her plan, and hoped that her need for attention would
not outweigh their bond of friendship. Bless her heart, with Helen you could
never be sure.
“Focus, Matilda,” she scolded
herself. The full moon would not last forever and she was certain this was a
now or never opportunity.
She continued with the task at hand
and let her mind wander. Maybe the “or never” was the better option. It was
certainly the safest, but frankly she felt in her heart that she was created
for more than safe. She was created to be extraordinary. Hadn’t her mother and
father always told her she could do anything she set her mind to? Yet, she
knew, they would be the first ones to question her current plan. She was also
aware that they could easily change her mind. She loved them so and their approval
was treasured. They had certainly provided her a safe and happy place to grow
up. She had never wanted for anything. Well, she had never wanted for any basic
need. But she was no Basic Bunny – that was for sure. She had big dreams!
A
stubborn root brought her mind back to the task at hand. Dig, dig to the right.
Dig, dig, dig to the left. She grunted. Ugh! Maybe she could gnaw it? She gave
it a try, being careful not to get mud on her head. Someone would surely notice
that and then she’d have a thousand questions to answer. She did love her
siblings, but they are a nosy bunch! There are five kids in the family: Mathew,
Millie, Matilda, Mary Lou, and little Meyekaill (pronounced like Michael. I
know friends, I know. There’s really no explaining how parents come up with
some of this stuff.) Matilda is the 2nd oldest of the three girls.
Their home was always full of love and laughter…and mischief.
Suddenly
and victoriously, the root snapped. In the quiet of the night the sound was
like a shot. Matilda froze. Slowly, she looked around and then let out a long
breath. Thankfully, no one seemed to notice. The younger two were once again in
an argument about cheating in their hopscotch game and Millie, the perfect one,
was grooming her beautiful fur. Mathew was of course far too grown up to be
concerned with anything that she might find interesting. Matilda was relieved
to see that the digging was much easier now that the root was out of the way.
Just a little more work for the night then she would need to rest. At this rate she felt confident that she would
break through to the other side of the fence day after tomorrow at the latest.
Then the real part of her brave plan would start.
Now
friends, as with all good stories, we understand that not everything goes as
planned. No, to be sure, there was no way Matilda could know about the storm
that was coming. There was no way to plan for the great sky bursts. The combination
of the two would create a serious and discouraging delay. Give me a minute to
stuff my cheeks with these tasty acorns and I will continue with the story.
Huh? What’s a sky burst; you ask? Well, to be honest, I’m not 100% sure, but I
do know that twice a year and after the home team wins in the fall the sky
around here lights up with them. There’s a lot of booms, and crackles, and
colors, and I’ll tell you, they sure look purty to an ol’ squirrel like me. To
young bunnies, however, they can be quite scary.
Let’s return to our story…
Matilda
stealthily dug the next night, without root interference. She could feel a
light breeze and knew her tunnel to freedom was basically complete. Tomorrow
she would bust through and head out to find adventure and hopefully love in the
big world beyond. Love wasn’t her main goal, of course. She was strong. She was
independent. She also wanted babies, and as sweet as Helen’s brother Henry was,
she didn’t want to end up settled down and married to a local bunny before
she’d at least seen her options. She knew what the others would say. She didn’t
care. She was going to experience life. End. Of. Story!
Uh, folks, that just a figure of speech. This story is not
over just yet! Please stay with me.
So, one
week from the night the jolly man in the red suit (yes, Santa!) came to visit,
Matilda began to say her goodbyes. Of course, her family could not know she was
saying goodbye. Though they would surely realize once she was gone. She had to
say farewell in her own way to keep her plan intact. So, she was extra helpful when
her mom got dinner ready and dug and fluffed everyone’s bedding. She laughed at
her father’s bad jokes. She played hopscotch with the littles, just a little
longer than she usually took the time. She even sat with Millie and listened as
she droned on about shiny ears and the importance of a fluffy, puffy tail. Mathew
was off with his friends and it was just as well. They had very little in
common anymore.
Helen was
her hardest goodbye, of course. They went for a hop around the yard and talked
and laughed as best friends are known to do. The time passed too quickly and as
they hopped along it started snowing heavily. It was time to return to their
families. When the hugged goodbye, Matilda held on a little longer. In fact,
she might have broken down and shared her plan if it weren’t that at that very
moment, the first sky burst occurred.
Helen
shrieked and scurried to her parents as quick as her paws would go. Matilda was
startled at first. It was shocking explosion that came seemingly from out of
nowhere. Like Helen, she had cried out
despite herself and had started to run, but then her natural curiosity took
over. She stared up at the sky. They really were beautiful. She was mesmerized.
First a red one then a blue. The silver ones that went up the highest and
fizzled at the end of each light petal were her favorite.
“Matilda!
Come here, right this instant!” Her father’s stern voice brought her back to
reality. “I’ve called you 5 times! You have to pay attention!”
“I’m
coming, Father!”, she called as she turned to run toward the familiar and safe
hutch that her family had lived in her whole life.
“What
were you thinking, child?” her father asked.
“The sky bursts are so beautiful”
she responded breathlessly.
“Hmph! The world is much more
dangerous than you understand,” her father scolded, “Even the beautiful things
can sometimes bring harm.”
Matilda climbed into the warm straw
with the rest of her family. She felt cold and it wasn’t just because of the
think snowflakes that were rapidly falling. No, she was cold inside, too. And
disappointed. Her plan was clearly postponed for now. She sniffled. Maybe
forever. She trembled. Her mother, thinking it was due to the fright from the
sky burst, comforted cuddled her and spoke soothing words. Tomorrow, everything
will be better.
Her mother was wrong. The next
morning was awful. It was so very cold. Everyone knew it was so very cold, not just
because they could feel it for themselves, but because Millie was constantly
reminding them, “I am so very cold!” Over and over again she complained.
Matilda was annoyed. The littles were arguing. The combination of disappointment,
bickering and complaining was almost more than she could take. She really
needed to go check on the damage to her escape tunnel, but no one would be
venturing away from the hutch-sun today.
In fact, it was two days before she
was able to cautiously go check on things. She fretted to herself as she tried
to hop nonchalantly to the secluded spot. What if the snow had caved in the
tunnel? What if the melt had flooded it? She stopped in her tracks. Oh no! She
hadn’t even thought of the most awful scenario that was playing out before her eyes.
The friendly Caregiver was there. The snow had made her tunnel more visible and
he must have spotted it. He was filling her hard – dug hole with stones. This
was the worst possible thing. This might mean she was back at square one.
Defeated, she hopped back home.
“Just where have you been?” Mathew
asked, leaning on the doorway to the hutch.
“Why do you care?” Matilda snapped
back while fighting back tears.
“Look, I know you think I don’t
care about you, but I am your big brother and I do see a lot more than you can understand.”
“You are the one who doesn’t
understand!”
“Oh really? Well, I understand that
you are a dreamer. I know that you have big plans. And I know that you have an escape
tunnel and are ready to run.”
“Had.”
“what?”
“I had an escape tunnel. Now
though, between The Caregiver and the snow my tunnel is destroyed.” Matilda
began to sob, “and so are my dreams.”
“Uh? There, there?” Mathew awkwardly
consoled. Crying girls made him so uncomfortable. “It may not be as bad as seems.
Hop with me, sister.”
As they hopped, Mathew talked about
his own dreams. He talked about how as a younger bunny he too had longed to see
beyond the fence. He also told her in deep confidence about how a chance
meeting with a sweet girl named Suzette had changed his life forever.
“She wants kids. She wants to be respected
in our community,” Mathew explained, “What can I say? The truth of the matter
is I want her.”
Matilda could hardly believe her
long ears. Her brother was in love? It seemed crazy at first, but she was truly
happy for him. As they talked, she began to realize he was willing to help her
with her plan. He told her about a couple of friends who had been known to move
some rocks for a price. Matilda lamented that she didn’t really have that in
her budget. Mathew explained about some favors that were owed him. Soon, a new
plan was in action, and Matilda would be waiting for the sign.
Five days later, Matilda and Helen
were hopping about the garden, nibbling on lettuce. Mathew ran up breathlessly,
“NOW! The time is now!” he exclaimed.
“but, what?” Matilda stammered.
That was not the agreed upon signal.
“Now is not the time for code
words! Now is the time to goooo! The boys have busted through and more snow is
coming tomorrow.” Mathew was rushing and turning to scurry toward the tunnel.
“What the heck is going on here?”
stomped Helen.
“Oh, Helen! I don’t have time to
explain” Matilda quickly hugged her dearest friend and turned to follow her
brother.
Realization washed over Helen.
“Not without me you don’t! Real
friends stick together!” She yelled as she also joined in the foot race over to
the fence where Mathew was already quickly giving some last-minute advice.
“Move quick but cautiously as you
can to the big tree. Pause there and catch your breath. Listen for sounds that
the Zumi has sensed your presence. Once you are certain it’s safe. Run. And I mean
run as fast as you have ever run in your life to the next fence. Go under and
you should be safe as there in not a known dog in that area.” Mathew paused for
a breath. “Sister. There is one other danger. One-Eyed Jack.”
“Oh Mathew! That’s just some silly
legend.” Matilda responded. “Some big tom cat with one eye and a tendency to
stop and clean himself at whim is just a tale mothers tell their baby bunnies
to make them behave.”
Mathew shuddered and suppressed a
memory. “I can assure you that he is very real. Although, everyone hopes that
he has moved on. You can never be too careful. You are bigger than him, but I
assure you an encounter with Ol’ Jack would be very, very dangerous.”
“Now you must go! We’ve wasted too
much time.”
Matilda quickly hugged her brother
and started under the fence. Her head fit easily enough but the rest of her
took a little pushing. She was finally under, but it was not as easy as she’d planned
considering her winter fur layer. Following Mathew’s advice, she made a beeline
for the big tree. Behind her she could hear Helen wiggling under the fence. Her
dear friend would be coming too apparently.
“Uh, Matilda?” Helen cautiously asked
as she high-tailed it to the big tree. “What’s a Zumi?”
“Shhhhh! Please keep your voice
down. She will hear us. “Matilda scolded. She paused and listened closely. Satisfied
she whispered to Helen, “I think the coast is clear. Let’s make a run for it.”
The two friends made the long
journey to the opposite fence in record time. They scooched under the fence leaving
normal behind, their adventure had officially begun.
