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Little Rabbit pushed his chair away from the table. "That was a delicious dinner, Mother", he said. "I think you're the best cook in the whole world!"
"And I think you're the kindest little rabbit in the world to say such a nice thing," laughed Mother. She started too clear away the dishes. "After my nap this afternoon I\m goin- to pick some blackberries and make a pie for supper." Little Rabbit smacked his lips. "I can hardly wait for supper time. Is there anything I can do to help you?" he asked. "Not right now," answered Mother. "It will only take me a few minutes to wash the dishes." "Then I'll go and play with Johnny while you take your nap, said Little Rabbit. "He asked me to come this afternoon." "Good," said Mother. "Have fun but don't stay too long. I want you to help me pick the blackberries." Mother watched as Little Rabbit hurried up the path. She remembered how frightened she had once been when Little Rabbit had told her that he was going to jump right out in front of Johnny. She remembered that dreadful evening when Tuffy, the cat, had caught Little Rabbit and how thankful she was that Johnny had saved him. Many times since then Johnny and Little Rabbit had played together. She was glad he had a friend like Johnny. As Little Rabbit went lippity, lippity, lip up the path he thought what a beautiful day it is! The gentle south breezes were shaking the leaves of the cottonwood tree making them sing as they danced about. Tall, white clouds had piled up high in the bright, blue sky looking like huge ice cream cones. He heard someone call, "Hello, Big Brave Rabbit." Little Rabbit stopped and looked around. He didn't see a big rabbit! Then he remembered. He was Big Brave Rabbit! That was the name his friends had given him because he had rescued Quacker Duck when he fell into a deep hole and couldn't get out. The voice was coming from the tree. He looked up and saw Frisky Squirrel. "Oh, hello Frisky," said Little Rabbit. "Where are you going, Big Brave Rabbit?" asked Frisky. Usually Little Rabbit was very shy and timid but today he felt mischievous and thought he would have some fun with Frisky. "Well," he boasted, I\m going through the woods where Big Bad Wolf lives! If I see him I'm going to chase him out of the woods!" "Do you really mean that?" stammered Frisky. "I wouldn't go into that part of the woods for anything. It scares me just to think of it." Of course I mean it," declared Little Rabbit, "And after I scare the big bad wolf out of the woods I think I'll go for a swim in the pond. He chuckled to himself when he saw how surprised Frisky looked. "Really?" Frisky's eyes were bulging with surprise. "I guess Big Brave Rabbit is a good name for you. No other animal would be brave enough to go through the woods where Big Bad Wolf lives or go for a swim just for fun." "Oh, there's nothing to it," bragged Little Rabbit. "If I catch that wolf I'll punch him right in the nose!" Little Rabbit snickered to himself. Frisky scampered down from the tree. "All of your friends will want to see you chase the wolf and swim," he exclaimed. "How soon will you start" Now it was Little Rabbit who was surprised. He didn't know what to say. He was scared to death of the wolf and as for swimming-ugh-he wouldn't do that for anything! "Well-er- maybe I won't do it today. My mother wants me to help her pick Blackberries," he stammered. "I'll do it some other day." He started to hop away. "Wait a minute," exclaimed Frisky, "You aren't afraid, are you?" He looked suspiciously at Little Rabbit. Little Rabbit hopped back. "Who? Me? Afraid? Well I should say not!" He tried to sound very brave. "I'm not afraid of anything. I'll start through the woods where the wolf lives in about an hour." "Good, that will give me time to tell all the animals," said Frisky and away he whisked through the woods. "See you at the edge of the woods," he called back. "Now what in the world will I do?" thought Little Rabbit. "Why did I say all those stupid things?" He sat down and scratched his ear. If I don't do what I said I would they'll know I'm afraid. If I do, I'm a dead rabbit! Oh dear, oh dear." He started hop, hop, hop sadly home. Then he stopped suddenly Johnny would help him! Right now he would be in his tree house down by the creek. Little Rabbit hurried lippity, lippity, lip to the tree house. He called. "Johnny, are you there?" Johnny looked out of the window. "Sure I'm here. Is that you, Little Rabbit? What do you want? "I have a problem. I need help," said Little Rabbit. "Please come down so I can talk to you. Johnny climbed down the ladder. "You look frightened, Little Rabbit. What's the matter?" Little Rabbit looked down. "I'm almost ashamed to tell you," he said quietly. "I bragged about how brave I am. I told Frisky I was going to the woods where Big Bad Wolf lives and scare him and then I was going for a swim in the pond." Little Rabbit was crying now. "I'm too scared to do either one of those things but if I don't my friends will know I'm afraid. Please tell me what to do, Johnny." "Well, Little Rabbit, of course you can't chase a wolf or swim and it was wrong for you to say you can but I'll help you," said Johnny. "Let me think a minute." Johnny thought and thought and then he began to laugh. "I know what we'll do. We'll play a joke on your friends. Big Bad Wolf isn't in the woods today. I saw some dogs chasing him and he ran into the hills. He won't be back for some time and ------ "But I have to chase him or my friends will know I'm afraid," interrupted Little Rabbit. "I know," said Johnny. "Here is my plan. In my tree house I have an old rug that looks like a wolf skin. I'll put it over me and you can chase me. Your friends will think I'm the wolf!" Little Rabbit jumped up and down and laughed. "That will be a good joke. Won't we have fun!" Then he stopped laughing. "But what about swimming? Ugh- I don't even like to get my feet wet. I'm scared stiff of water." "I was starting to make a sail boat when you came," said Johnny. "I have a flat board with a small rope tied to it so I can pull it behind me as I swim. I don't have the sail on it yet. "You can lie flat on your stomach on the board with your feet hanging over the sides," explained Johnny. "I'll pull you along as I swim and you paddle with your feet. They'll think you are swimming." Johnny chuckled when he thought how funny Little Rabbit would look. "I don't much like the idea of getting out on the pond, even on a board," complained Little Rabbit. "But I sup- pose I'll have to." "You don't need to be afraid. If you fall into the water I'll save you," promised Johnny. "Now we better hurry to the woods. Your friends will soon be there." Johnny climbed up into the tree house and got the rug and the boat and they started happily for the woods, where the wolf lived. As they approached the woods Little Rabbit stopped and began to tremble. "Are you sure the wolf is gone?" His voice shook he was so frightened. "Sure, I know he's gone," answered Johnny. "Here we are at the edge of the woods. I don't see your friends. "I'll go over behind that tree and put the rug over me. When your friends come you hop near to the tree and shout for me to come out." explained Johnny. "I'll run out and pretend I\m scared. You chase me and I'll run like every- thing. We'll run right to the pond and be ready when your friends get there. Creeping cautiously the animals soon came through the grass at the edge of the woods. They crouched down and waited quietly. Flower Skunk, Chippy Chipmunk, Susan Rabbit, Frisky Squirrel, Archie Raccoon, Possum and many of their brothers and sisters were there. When Little Rabbit saw them he ran to the tree where Johnny was hiding. "Come out, you Big Bad Wolf," he shouted. "I know you're hiding behind that tree! He shook his paw in the direction of the tree. "I'll punch you right in the nose if I catch you!" Johnny, with the rug around him ran from behind the tree. Oh, how he ran with Little Rabbit behind him. "Just wait until I catch you," he shouted as they ran. "I'm going to punch you right on the snoot!" The animals hiding at the edge of the woods couldn't believe their eyes. "He did it!" they shouted. "He chased the Big Bad Wolf right out of the woods. The name Big Brave Rabbit isn't good enough for him. Let's call him our King!" Then Archie spoke up, "I still don't believe he's brave enough to swim. He's scared to even get his feet wet." "Well," said Chippy, "Let's go to the pond and see. Away they all hurried to the pond. Johnny and Little Rabbit were ready. Little Rabbit lay on the board flat on his stomach with his feet in the water. He would have been very frightened if Johnny hadn't been such a good swimmer. Johnny swam all around the pond and behind him came Little Rabbit paddling his feet and pretending to swim. "For goodness sakes," gasped Susan Rabbit. "Little Rabbit- I mean Big Brave Rabbit really is swimming!" Then all the animals called to Little Rabbit, "You are the bravest animal in the woods. No one else would dare chase the bad wolf or go for a swim just for fun. We want you to be our king." Then they all went away singing: "Big Brave Rabbit, Big Brave Rabbit, No one is as brave as he, He chased the wolf and swam in the pond. Now our king he must be." Little Rabbit and Johnny sat on the bank and laughed and laughed. "That was a good joke," chuckled Johnny. "Did you see how surprised they looked?" Little Rabbit laughed so hard he rolled in the grass. "They were more than surprised, they were flabbergasted. Now they want me to be their king," he said proudly. "I'll look handsome in a crown, don't you think, Johnny?" Suddenly Johnny was very quiet and he wasn't even smiling. "What's the matter, Johnny?" asked Little Rabbit anxiously. Johnny paused a long time before he answered. "You realize, Little Rabbit, it was only a joke. You couldn't really scare a wolf or swim in the pond. Your friends named you Big Brave Rabbit when you saved Quacker Duck. You were really brave then. That wasn't a joke. You earned that name." "I know," said Little Rabbit. "I'd be so scared I\d die if I even saw the wolf and I wouldn't think of going for a swim." Then he started to giggle. "But it was fun to fool my friends and now I will be their king!" He strutted around proudly. Johnny still looked very serious. "I don't believe you understand," he said. "You mustn't let them make you king. You don't deserve that. It isn't good to pretend you can do something you can't to make others think you are wise or clever or brave! Johnny looked kindly at Little Rabbit. "Do you know what you must do, Little Rabbit? "Yes, I know", sighed Little Rabbit. "I must tell my friends it was only a joke. I wouldn't be brave, I'd be foolish if I tried to scare a wolf or swim." Then he laughed and there was a twinkle in his eye. "I don't think I'd like being king anyway. The crown would get caught on the briars every time I went in the berry patch." Now Johnny laughed. "I was sure you wouldn't really want to deceive your friends. It was a good joke but only a joke. "I'll go right away and tell them," said Little Rabbit, "I bet they will think it was a good joke too. Bye, Johnny, see you tomorrow." And away he went lippity, lippity, lip to find his friends. |