The White Rabbit and the Winter Wind By C.L.Shoemaker

In the meadows of Downshire, warmed by a bright summer sun, lived a plethora of creatures from moles and hedgehogs, to robins and squirrels. In the deepest burrow under the large oak tree the majority of the meadow’s rabbits resided, each a glorious burnt brown, cedar or russet tan, with fur that gleamed in the sunlight. They all easily blended into the surrounding landscape except for one, a snow-white rabbit that was the oddest colour, if he was even a colour at all. He had arrived one afternoon, quite lost and confused, and had remained with the other rabbits, despite the fact that he clearly didn’t belong. Who had ever seen a rabbit as white as the snow? No matter where he went, he was easily picked out for his bright, white coat. At first the hedgehogs and squirrels had suggested that he roll about in the mud to match with the other brown rabbits. White rabbit had done so but his new-found colour soon washed away in the rain. Robin had suggested he try to eat all the hazelnuts he could find as their brown colour might turn his fur a silky tan. The little rabbit had tried that too only to have a terrible tummy ache for a week. A woodpecker suggested he cover himself in brown leaves and dark twigs to appear the right colour. White rabbit tried that as well, but the leaves only fell off and the twigs got caught on things and poked the other animals, much to their annoyance. After rolling in mud puddles, eating acorns and hazelnuts by the bushel, and trying to hide under leaves and twigs the little white rabbit was ready to give up. The other animals laughed at his colour and called him a frosty snowball until a cold wind from the mountain took their attention away from the small rabbit.

The chilling wind started out light, but then grew in strength and persistence over the weeks. By the end of the month, the animals were all shivering and began to complain amongst themselves about this strange wind. A council meeting was called; Squirrel and Hawk volunteered to go up the mountain to uncover the problem. Their attempts at discovery didn’t last long as the hawk was blown out of the mountain cave in a flurry of feathers and snow, while the squirrel was frozen into an ice block before he could inquire about the problem. The animals voted again and sent up the old red cardinal, who was used to cold winds, and a tortoise who had more weighted mass than the eagle. While the cardinal could withstand the cold, he wasn’t able to get an answer only a hissing voice telling him to “Go away.” The tortoise, while not able to be blown off the mountain, wasn’t able to endure the cold and went into a hibernation to keep alive. The cardinal had to push him back down the mountain where he thawed out under the oak tree.

The animals were out of ideas. The mountain wind couldn’t be reasoned with and it certainly didn’t want to negotiate. Everyone who went up the mountain either froze or was blown away. Then one brown rabbit piped up.

“What about the snowball. He’d fit in up there. He’s white and no one likes him either.”

The white rabbit tried to hide behind some fallen leaves and blend in, but his bright white fur gave him away.

“Yes, that’s an idea,” the oldest frog noted. “Send him up,” he agreed, ignoring the laughter from the other rabbits.

The little white rabbit had no choice and so started up the mountain, hopping his way up the rough trail as the ground changed from dirt to snow and then to ice.

When he arrived at the top of the mountain, a huge gust of wind bellowed out of the cave. “I told you to leave me alone” the wind howled. The little bunny hunkered down as he was blow across the ice and bumped into the side of the cave.

“That was the tortoise and the cardinal,” he explained quietly. “I’m snowball, the white rabbit.”

The wind laughed. “A rabbit. Why did they send you?” he growled.

“They don’t like me down in the meadow. I’m not like any of the other rabbits and I suppose I don’t fit in. So, I’m often alone. You’re alone up here too, aren’t you?”

“I prefer to be alone,” the winter wind hissed, ruffling the rabbit’s fur.

“Oh,” the rabbit whispered.

“Now leave before I blow you away,” the wind threatened. Before the little rabbit could turn around the wind huffed and blew but he couldn’t find the rabbit to blow him off the mountain top. “Where are you?” the wind asked. “I can’t see you?”

“How can you not see me?”

The wind growled. “You’re white. You blend in with all this snow and ice,” he complained.

The little rabbit grinned in surprised. “I do? Oh, I’ve been hoping to find a place where I belong and blend in,” he sighed contentedly. “Down in the meadow all the other rabbits are brown, and they match with the trees and the dirt hills. I’m so white I stand out everywhere. I think that’s why they don’t like me,” he sighed. “It’s lovely and warm down there—”

“I don’t like the warmth,” the wind howled. “I tried to come down to the meadow once before and everyone hated my arrival. They wished I would go away and never return, so I retreated to this mountain top where no one ever sees or hears from me,” the wind sighed.

The little rabbit felt his heart melt at the wind’s sadness.

“No one appreciates the cold. Everyone just hates it” the wind added.

“I don’t mind the cold,” the little rabbit noted. “I have all the warm fur I need to be in the snow,” he said with a smile. “Have you tried visiting the sun before travelling to the meadow?” the rabbit asked. “The sun is always welcoming, even to me. He warms my fur in the daytime and heats up the meadow in the summer. He’s still there in the winter and he doesn’t care what colour my fur is, so perhaps he won’t care about your chill.”

The wind thought about it for a moment and replied. “If the sun is as welcoming as you say he is perhaps I will speak with him.”

The rabbit waited on the mountain top as the winter wind visited the sun. He was as warm and welcoming as the rabbit had promise and offered to warm the winter wind up before he rushed down upon the meadow. The sun explained that everything in the meadow was in balance and the winter wind was needed during the cold month, but a different wind was still needed for the summer. As the wind and the sun talked, the winter wind’s breeze turned gentle, perhaps from the rabbit’s kind words or the sun’s friendly heat. The sun made a deal with the wind, that for half of the year he could visit and be warmed by the sun’s rays, but for the other half he needed to bring snow and ice to the meadow for the winter months. The winter wind agreed.

Upon returning to the rabbit, the wind was warm and comforting.

“My goodness, you’re warm from speaking with the sun,” the little rabbit observed.

“I am” the wind noted with surprised and glee. “He is as nice as you said he would be. Perhaps I will try to visit the meadow now? Do you think they will ever welcome me?”

The rabbit thought for a moment. “I’m not sure but whether you are cold or warm, I will always be your friend. My fur lets me enjoy your winter snow and ice. So, I’m happy to be with you either way.

So, the rabbit and the winter wind came down from the mountain together with the wind bringing warm summer breezes with him as he went. The meadow was much relieved to see that he was no longer blowing cold air and snow and they were happy to welcome him to the meadow. The little white rabbit was praised for his role in taming the winter wind, although all he really did was befriend him and see beyond his cold exterior. And that is how the winter wind, changed into the summer wind with the help of a little white rabbit and some sunshine.

Moral: Kindness and a willingness to see beyond a person’s difference can lead to understanding, new friendships and healing.

#literaturewithcharm#Prosefable#CLShoemaker#challengeoftheweekLXXIII