Chapter Two – Pastures New
We pulled into a driveway, I felt the gravel beneath me. The door opened and a woman scooped me out of the box. “Oh isn’t she beautiful Kevin?” A man came over and fondled my ears. “She’s perfect!” he replied. They brought me indoors, and I had a nice indoor cage. It was filled with tasty treats and lots of fresh hay. The room smelt nice, it had a warm smell, like baking. In the mornings the soft smell of breakfast would waft through to my cage and I would run to the bars, hoping to catch a snippet of what smelt so delicious. They always gave me fresh greens and cuddled me every night. I had been there a few weeks when Kevin and his wife Sarah, put me into a large run during the day. It brought back so many lovely memories of my mother, I wondered where she was. I didn’t mind being alone, I was just lonely. Sometimes the ginger cat strolled past me in the afternoons, but he scared me. One morning I was put into a wooden hutch in the garden. Kevin and Sarah didn’t want me to be a house bunny anymore. I didn’t mind too much, because I could go in the run all day! And they always came to see me.
I loved it when Sarah placed me on her lap and gave me fuss, and when Kevin would pretend he wasn’t into rabbits but whenever he was alone he would let me out in the garden with him while he drank his tea in the mornings. That morning however, it was different. Kevin hadn’t come outside. I pressed my little honey nose through the black mesh, waiting. He finally came out with a huge smile on his face, he walks straight past me and got in his car. I watched him drive away. I didn’t understand. Then it got weirder. Sarah started having people over all the time, and they always had that same smile. I hadn’t been cuddled in a long time, I was always fed and cleaned out, but I didn’t get cuddled anymore. I felt sad, all I wanted was their affection. Had I done something? I lay against the mesh with my little nose pointing out most of the day, hoping for Sarah to catch a glimpse of me and want to play. Then one day. Sarah came and pulled a big white chair next to my hutch. She scooped me out and placed me on her tummy. Only it was…different. Round.
Sarah stroked my ears. “I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you much Sunny, I’ve been so busy and...i know its not an excuse, but…I do love you” She then placed me back in the hutch, and went indoors, a tear in her eye.
The next day a woman came and saw me. She was around forty, with blond frizzy hair scraped back into a plait. She had a look about her, I didn’t trust it. She was talking to Sarah. “So, when I found out I was pregnant, I had less time for Sunny, she’s been very well cared for and we do love her but, with the baby I just cant’” said Sarah, looking very embarrassed. “ I’ll take good care of her” said the woman. And I knew I was leaving.