Matilda's Big Adventure - Episode 1

 

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 2^nd 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.