Week 1 Storytelling: Rosie the Rabbit

BYE, baby bunting,

Daddy's gone a hunting,

To get a little hare's skin

To wrap a baby bunting in.

(traditional nursery rhyme)

(Rosie the Rabbit)

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Rosie the Rabbit was snuggled in her hole as she felt the morning sun shine through on her fur.  She stretched out her sleepy limbs and then crawled out of the hole to explore the chilly fall day.  As Rosie hoped through the forest, she made her way to The Walton's house. The Walton's house held sad memories for Rosie.  Rosie had two brothers that were shot by Mr. Walton and she had seen his kids wrapped as tiny babies in her own brothers furs! She sat aside a tree as she watched the little Walton kids run and play while Mr. and Mrs. Walton sat on the porch drinking warm coffee.  Near them was a small basket that was holding something wiggly and loud.  Rosie perked up her ears and determined that inside that basket was a crying baby! The Walton's must have added a new addition to their family. "Oh no!" thought Rosie.  "If The Walton's have another baby during this chilly weather then they will be looking for new rabbit fur!"  Rosie's mind raced as she came up with a plan to watch Mr. Walton's every move until he would leave to hunt.  Rosie hoped closer to the house and hid near a bush where she could hear The Walton's voices more clearly.  As The Walton's moved in and out of the house throughout the day, Rosie laid still so The Walton's could not see her.  As the sun went down, the baby began to cry.  Mrs. Walton was trying to soothe the baby but nothing seemed to be working.  She then called for her husband.  "It's getting chilly.  I think it's time for a new rabbit fur to soothe the baby."  Rosie became frightened knowing she would soon be running for her life.  She had no where to go, this forest was her home.  All of her animal friends were living in this forest and she did not want to leave them.  As Mr. Walton loaded up his shot gun, Mrs. Walton placed the baby on the front porch hoping the fresh air would help soothe it.  Rosie peeked in the basket at the sweet chubby baby that was inside.  Rosie's heart broke for the baby and she wanted to help it stop crying but she did not want to get shot either!  Rosie began to think of ways to help this baby but also save her own life.  "That's it!", thought Rosie as soon as Mr. Walton's boots hit the floor.  "I can provide warmth to the baby and stay alive if I snuggle up real close!"  Rosie hoped out of her hiding place quickly up the steps and into the baby's basket before Mr. Walton could shoot her.  She snuggled up real close to the crying baby and slowly began to feel its skin warm up.  Mr. and Mrs. Walton were in disbelief but realized their baby had quit crying.  They peeked under the blanket and saw Rosie warming up the now quiet baby.  Once the baby was asleep Rosie hoped out and ran as fast as she could to her hole.  Mr. Walton never followed her, he simply stood on his porch watching Rosie the Rabbit run away.  Rosie continued to come back every night and snuggle the baby to sleep and then return safely to her hole.

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Authors Note: This story is based on the nursery rhyme "Bye Baby Bunting" from The Nursery Rhyme Book, edited by Andrew Lang (1897).  The nursery rhyme is told by the mother of the baby but I wanted to write a story from the rabbit's point of view.  As an animal lover I decided to let the rabbit live while still allowing it to use its fur to warm the baby.  This story has a happy ending for everyone unlike the in the original nursery rhyme wear the rabbit is killed for its fur.