Stories for Young Readers
BENJI BUNNY
© The School of Truth
Source p. 252, Aug / Sep 2006 - The Path of Truth
Benji Bunny's little nose waffled in the crisp spring air. It was going to be a fine day, a day just made for adventure. Hippity-hop he skipped across the veld looking for something exciting to do. Soon he came to the farm. What was new since his last visit during winter? A-ha! He spied a row of yummy, scrunchy, freshest-ever vegetables in the farmyard. Hmmm! His mouth watered. What could be better than a sweet, crisp carrot, fresh from the ground? In the back of his mind he recalled Mama-Bunny's words on the terrible dangers of the farm, but he was certain she was being over-protective - after all he was a clever bunny and knew how to care for himself.
Hippity-hippity-hop he went forward to the fence, his large eyes darting this way and that. Maybe he should ask the farm animals what he should look out for? So he went up to the cows grazing peacefully nearby. "Mrs Cow, what is dangerous about the farm?" he asked. "Moo-oo" said the cow "I wouldn't know my boy. I do what I have to do." She lowered her head and went on wrapping her tongue around the tufts, ripping them off and chewing them very slowly.
Benji sighed impatiently and hopped over to the sheep. "Sheep family, can you tell me what is dangerous about the farm?" "Baah" they replied as one "We just stay out here and do what we have to do." Again as one, they turned their backs on him. "But, but, but..." began Benji. Mr Ram turned his head and bleated "Off with you sonny, you're disturbing our peace!"
Benji fluffed his tail and muttered "Stupid sheep!" Suddenly the goats were all around him. Billy goat stared at him. "Eh-eh-eh-eh" he commented gruffly. "Mr Billy, what danger is there on the farm?" he asked, hopping more or less on the spot. "I wouldn't know, I mind my own business and do what I have to do." "Why do you farm animals all give the same stupid answer?" asked Benji, now getting quite cross. "Mind your own business and you'll be OK" said the goat without a blink. "What a boring bunch these farm animals were - just doing what they had to do" thought Benji as he hopped off.
Then he spotted Dan Donkey. "I won't even bother to ask him" thought Benji, "donkeys are stubborn and not very bright" but he felt the donkey's eyes on him as he hopped through the open gate, into the farmyard and towards the vegetable patch. Bunny heaven! He didn't know where to start. He started on a lettuce, green, juicy and damp with dew. Then he moved on to a bright orange carrot poking invitingly out of the ground. He gnawed at its sweet crispness, his whiskers twitching and his eyes searching excitedly for the next delightful treat. Suddenly a shadow fell over him and he was hit by the smell of dog breath. Instinctively he flattened himself against the ground and made himself into a ball. He peeped up from under his ears, which were almost deafened by the deep-throated growl, and saw huge yellow fangs. "Oh no. This is the end!" he gasped. But just then a loud voice yelled "Hee-haw, Hee-haw!" The dog spun around, "Keep away Mr Donkey, I'm just doing what I have to do - keeping my boss' garden free of pests."
Benji didn't hesitate to use the opportunity. He took off like a weasel, out of the gate, through the legs of the startled farm animals, across the veld, into the thicket he knew so well and finally into his family's burrow. He hadn't stopped once. There he cowered, trembling and crying. Of course his Mom wanted to know the whole story. Ashamed and stuttering, Benji told her. Her eyes said everything - how angry and yet grateful she was. "You are very lucky, and you owe Mr Donkey a big thank-you! is all she could say.
A few days later, when Benji had recovered from his ordeal, he made his way cautiously to the farm. As he approached the farmyard he saw the cows, sheep and goats grazing peacefully outside the farmyard fence. He came closer and was pleased to see the farmyard gate closed and Mr Donkey standing quietly next to it. Inside the yard he saw the dog sleeping in the shadow of a tree. Suddenly Benji realised that the only dangerous thing about the farm was his own foolishness, and was really what his Mom had tried to warn him about. Then he hopped up to the donkey. "Thank you for saving my life" he said sincerely. Mr Donkey looked at him with his head on one side, one ear up and one ear down. "That's OK, I thought you deserved a second chance. Have a carrot from my bucket." Benji and the donkey spent quite a long time together munching what the farmer had grown for his faithful servant.
Enjoy life to the full, but always respect others. Their lives are just as important as yours.
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