The Big Bear and the Rabbit (a short story)

The Big Bear and the Rabbit
(A short story)
Written by: Clarice

There was once a rabbit who was jolly and playful. He would jump on everything he sees. One day, he saw a log. There he jumped and jumped. The next day, he saw a strawberry farm. There he hopped and hopped. The following day, he saw lump on the soil. He stopped and thought, “This is too big to be the house of ants, yet too small to be a hill”. After a while, he got on top of it and jumped and jumped. “Hey this is fun. I’ve never seen something like this before”. He continued to jump and jump and jump, until…
“Roaarrrr…”
The rabbit hurriedly jumped off the lump. He found out that it wasn’t an ant house nor a hill…but a bear! A bear whom he has awaken from his tight sleep.
“Hey you! You have disrupted my sleep. For that, I will eat you.” And the bear rumbled a terrifying roar.
The rabbit was so frightened, but he stood up with confidence and courage and talked with a very pleasing voice.
“Mr. Bear, I am sincerely sorry for having interrupted your sleep. I beg you not to kill me. If you’ll let me live, I promise to bring you carrots everyday”, the rabbit pleaded. Upon hearing this, the bear started laughing and said, “What a funny creature. Don’t you know that we bears do not eat carrots? I think it’s nicer to eat fresh flesh especially during a cold day”.
“But, Mr. Bear..”, the rabbit interrupted. “My carrots are not just ordinary carrots. Have you heard of the story of the Numskull and the Rabbit?” the rabbit explained.
“I do not care about anything but my throbbing stomach. I’m gonna eat…”, but before the bear finished talking, the rabbit jumped into his head.
“Mr. Bear, that rabbit is me. Don’t you see? I am the wise rabbit who tricked and killed Numskull, the king of the forest.” At this point, the bear was awed by what he was hearing. “If you wish…” the rabbit continued. “…I will give you carrots that will surely make you extraordinarily wise” The bear stood silent and thought. “If I will become the wisest being in this forest, since I am strong, I can take over Numskull’s position. Okay then, bring me as many carrots as you can. If you don’t return, I will search for you and kill all the rabbits I see.”, the bear said angrily.
“Yes Mr. Bear. I will not let my family be killed. I will bring you carrots as many as I can.” And the rabbit hopped away.
After an hour and so, the rabbit returned, with a single carrot on his hand.
“Why did you bring me one carrot alone? I told you to bring as many as you can”, the bear shouted.
“But Mr. Bear…”, the rabbit replied. “…it would be hard for me to bring more carrots. If you may, I will lead you to where these carrots grow.”
“Then let’s go!” the bear hurriedly answered. After a long walk, they reached a cave.
“Are you fooling me?”, the bear angrily said. “This is a cave. Where is the plantation?”
“It is not a plantation we’re looking for Mr. Bear”, the rabbit explained. “It is a single plant that only grows deep inside this cave.”
“Then hurry up”, the bear answered. “Let’s get that plant right away”
“But Mr.Bear..”,said the rabbit. “I’d rather stay outside. I will watch over other animals who would attempt to steal the plant from you” And so the rabbit stayed outside while the bear hurried into the cave. When the rabbit had made sure that the bear has gone deep inside that long cave, he called out all his friends and altogether, they covered the only opening of that cave. From then on, the bear was never able to come out again.


—The End—