FREE

By Janet Baldey

MONDAY

Ah, here it comes. 

Narrowing my eyes, I focus on the pink blob as it materialises out of the Big House and winds its way down the narrow path towards us.  At last, I’m starving.   Oh, no – now it’s gone. I breathe a sigh of relief as the shape emerges from out of a stand of trees and bursts back into the sunlight.  As it grows nearer my mouth begins to water.   I wonder what it’s brought today.  I’m glad it’s the pink thing and not the thin brown one. That one’s nasty.  The lettuce it brings us is limp and sometimes slimy and the carrots are stale.  In the vain hope of being given something tasty, Flossie – that’s my cage mate - used to flutter her long lashes and look pathetic but it never worked.   The brown thing barely looks at us, just bungs the food into our cage and goes, sometimes without even remembering to fill our water bottles. The round pink thing is different.  Softer somehow, but what’s more important the lettuce it brings is freshly picked and the carrots are crisp.  Even thinking about them makes me drool.  Sometimes it gives us something special – cucumber!  I love cucumber.  Or maybe it will be something even better - celery.  My imagination runs riot and I must stop, my fur is getting wet.

 Of course, it’ll feed Flossie first.  Flossie is its favourite.  Can’t think why. I’ve shared my cage with Flossie for months now and she bores me stiff.  She’s got no conversation.   God knows I’ve tried to communicate but she just stares at me from out of those big doe eyes of hers, then they go all milky and she starts to groom her fur.  Only good for one thing really and as it’s so dreary, being stuck here all day, I do a lot of that. Sometimes, little things that look just like Flossie, appear. Goodness knows where they come from.  Anyway, they only stay for a little while then they go and Flossie is sad but I must say I’m pleased. They’re so tiresome when they start hopping all over me just as I’m trying to catch a bit of shut-eye.

Oh-oh.  It’s here now. And wouldn’t you know it?   Flossie gets picked up and stroked and the pink thing starts making cooing noises.  Of course, Flossie is milking it like mad, fluttering her eyelashes and twitching her nose in that irritating way she has.  Oh, get over it for Heaven’s sake – just give us the grub. 

TUESDAY

         I’ve just had a very nasty shock.  In fact, it’s put me right off my food.   Flossie can have my share, I couldn’t eat a thing.   It happened this morning.  Both the pink and the brown thing came to feed us which was strange.  Even stranger, it was my turn to get picked up and stroked.  I was so surprised; I just laid my ears back and let them do it – both of them.  But what’s really bothering me is what I heard them say.   Bear with me and I’ll try and remember their exact words.

         ‘Nearly ready for the pot Bert.

         ‘Yeah.  Another few days.’  I felt my tummy being pinched.  ‘Nice and fat.  Get a good meal out of this one.’

         They put me back in the cage and I lie there quivering.  What did they mean?  I knew it wouldn’t bother some rabbits.  Some rabbits are – to put it bluntly – thick.  But I’m not like that.   I’ve got a brain beneath my furry skull.  In fact, if there was such a thing as a rabbit MENSA I reckon I would be up there with the best of them.  Given that fact, their conversation troubled me.  It troubled me a lot.  I have a nasty feeling that I need to get out of here and fast.  But how and where can I go?  I shall have to have a serious think.

         I lie staring through the wire netting of the cage.  There are some wild rabbits hopping in and out of the trees.  They have brown fur just like me; perhaps I could go and live with them.  I look closer.  It’s clear they’re a lot slimmer and much more active than me.  This cage life has played havoc with my waistline although I deny most strongly that I am fat - just a trifle portly maybe. However, I shall have to get into shape.  I do a few experimental hops around my cage.  This wears me out and so I have a little snooze.

         Bingo!  I’ve just woken up with a plan.  It’s rather violent and I fear will involve blood but needs must….

WEDNESDAY

         It’s the pink thing again and I’m so glad.  Clearly, it’s fond of Flossie so that will make my plan of action much easier.   I wait until it’s unlatched the cage before I strike.  Just as it’s loading in the lettuce, I give a blood curdling scream and launch myself at Flossie burying my incisors deep into her neck.  Even I have to admit her squeals are heartrending, but I hang on and sure enough, taste blood for the first time.  It’s revolting – no wonder I’m a vegetarian.   No matter, it’s done the trick.  With a look of horror, the pink thing drops the lettuce and turns to rescue Flossie, quite forgetting the cage door is wide open.  With one bound I’m out and hopping down the path.  It’s exhilarating.   I’ve just one thought in my mind as I hop along as fast as I can.  Free.  I’m free at last!

         Phew!  This is hard work.  Those woods are further off than I thought.  My hops begin to slow down, and I stop to look around for a second.  Hello, what’s that?  I’ve never seen a creature like that before.  It’s not a cat; it’s bigger than a cat.  I’m glad, I don’t like cats.  You can never trust a cat.  It’s not a dog; it’s smaller than a dog.  I’m glad, I don’t like dogs.  They’re too noisy and they rush at you.  This thing’s got reddish fur and a big bushy tail; it’s not slinky or bouncy but is just standing there, looking at me.  It doesn’t seem fierce; in fact, it seems quite friendly.  It also looks intelligent.  Perhaps it would like a conversation.  Of course, that must be it!  It recognises me for the rabbit I am – a bright rabbit that can discuss the state of the planet.  I start to hop towards it…..

copyright Janet Baldey