peters rabit

Peters rabbit1

Mornings at the Bellue house hold were…how should I say this? Frenzied. It was as if the entire family, except mom, wanted to sleep until the after life appeared before their eye lids. Mom, on the other hand, woke up at five thirty ever morning. She was the only one of us that actually wanted to experience life. There was always something to do that required early rising. Coffee followed by meditation and bible study. The kitchen always needed cleaning, the dog always needed feeding, and the children always needed waking. That in itself was a task to be reckoned with. 2

I think I was eight when it all went down, but I could have been nine, maybe even ten. Thunder, the dog, was one and a half. Beth the sister, was about 13 maybe fourteen, and dead set against going to school on that day, and pretty much every day prior to that.. I, the brother, was not too keen on the idea either. But, I think my objections were slightly more reserved than my sister’s, who was sitting on the living room floor on the smooth path to a full blown temper tantrum. Talking about some random person, who nobody knew that died in the last month. She needed time to grieve.3

. Don’t get me wrong I have had my fare share of temper tantrums in the distant as well as recent past, we all do. On this day I had come to the realization, after a whole week of begging, the only way to get what I wanted was to give up. Rain falls naturally. All the dancing and chanting in the world is not going to make it come faster, it’s just going to tire you out when it finally does come, on its own. That’s a pretty astute observation for an eight year old if I do say so myself. (Ok, off of my soap box and on to the story.)4

Thunder desperately needed to go out side for his walk, and was standing by the door panting and whimpering. Coincidentally Beth was doing the same thing only facing a different direction. Sue, the mom, was also facing the door with one hand on thunder’s collar, and the other on Beth’s belt loop, vigorously pulling from both directions. Like so many times in the past she was trying to control a situation so chaotic that even god himself could not maintain.5

It was my job in the mornings to take thunder outside. I didn’t really have a problem with it, in fact I liked the time I got to myself. The only thing that was problematic was thunders tendency to run off. Most of the time I had him under control but if he saw anything he wanted to chase he could easily slip out of his collar. Border collies have an inherent need to herd. If this need is not stimulated they will find a way to satisfy their desires. The middle school kids hanging out at the bus stop seemed the perfect opportunity for thunder to quench his herding thirst. His head slipped out of the collar and he was gone before I could say anything at all. I didn’t bother going to get him, he was impossible to catch. Soon enough the kids would be gone and he would get board and come home. 6

Mom was inside still fighting with Beth when I walked in with out the dog. Immediately the attention reverted to the empty leash in my hands.7

Oh, Robbie no, he didn’t. Said mom solemnly 8

Oh, mom, yes he did. I said jokingly.9

Just then mom turned to Beth and said; “girl if you don’t go and catch that bus right this instant I will kick your ass into next weak. Robbie’s going to ride with me.”10

Beth stormed out of the door with out another word. Mom looked at me and said; don’t think I don’t know what you are doing your not staying home either. You have ten minutes to get that dog or I’m taking him to the human society. 11

I ran out the door, but when I got there the middle school bus was gone and thunder was sitting in front of our trailer sniffing a gigantic long eared bunny. 12

The bunny belonged to our next-door neighbor peter. He had recently purchased it with his allowance. He was very proud of his obese bunny. 13

Thunder had that poor rabbit cornered. His nose was buried in its fat rolls. I hesitated for a moment then yelled; “thunder no”. It was too late thunder raised his head and catapulted the animal four feet in the air. It came down with a thud, then nothing at all. Peter’s rabbit was dead, and my dog murdered him. Thunder came walking up to me, as if seeking console of some kind. I took him inside. Mom was sitting in her chair watching the news when we entered. “That didn’t take very long” she said, with a smile. 14

“no, it didn’t”; I said almost completely catatonic. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked getting worried. “Thunder just killed peters bran new bunny.” I said on the verge of tears and intense laughter.15

We stood over the bunny both contemplating the best course of action. Both very frightened of how the neighbors would react. Then without mom put it all out there. “We have to get rid of the body. Robbie go get a trash bag and something to scoop him up.” I did what she said then went outside and pushed the rabbit in the bag and took him to the dumpster behind our trailer. When I went back inside mom looked at me and said; do you think you can stay home by your self and not get into trouble, I have to go to work.” “I think I could manage, I said grimly. “Ok, you have everything you need call me if anything happens.” she left and I sat staring at the television trying to block out my most recent memory. 16

I stayed that way until my sister came home. She walked in to see me sitting on the sofa watching TV, and immediately started raising hell. “What are you doing home, she said lividly. “Mom let me stay home because I watched thunder kill peters rabbit.” “That stupid, one of my friends died last month and she can’t let me stay home and grieve, but you get to stay home because of a fucking bunny.” “ yes, but I bet you didn’t have to scoop your friend up in a bag and throw him in a dumpster, I’m fucking traumatized. Beth ran to her room and slammed the door. I didn’t see her the rest of the day.17

The end18