The Runaway Carrot

 It was early morning and the sun was smiling down on the house where Nickle and Maulee, two friendly rabbits, lived with their foster Mummy.

 "Mmm - I am going to have carrots and cereal for my breakfast" said Nickle, licking her big bunny teeth.  

"Yummy - but I am having carrots on toast" squealed Maulee bunny.

So both little bunnies waiting patiently while their Mummy made their breakfast.  Nickle's cereal was in her bowl and Maulees toast was buttered.  Mummy went to the fridge to get out a big juicy carrot, which was Nickle and Maulees favourite part of breakfast.  But as she reached out to get the biggest - juiciest carrot in the bag... she heard a very loud and very SCARY "woo-hoo-hilly-OP.... stop - stop - STOP"  And all of a sudden a very big, very juicy and very ANGRY carrot jumped out of the fridge and landed with a loud PLOP into Nickles cereal.

Mummy didn't know what to do.  Nickle and Maulee didn't know what to do either.  They had seen plenty of big, juicy carrots - but never one that yelled "woo-hoo-hilly-op" and never one that jumped out of the fridge.  But before any of them could do anything - the carrot climbed out of the cereal and jumped straight out of the window.  And while Mummy, Nickle and Maulee stared out the window in shock, the carrot skipped happily down the path, singing "woo-hoo-hilly-op" and certainly a lot happier now that he was not breakfast anymore.

"Well" said Mummy. "That was odd" and she made herself a nice cup of tea to steady her nerves.

"Well" said Nickle. "Suddenly I don't feel like eating carrots for breakfast."  And she sadly sat down on the chair next to Mummy.

"Well" said Maulee "How very impolite of that carrot to run off like that.  He needs to learn some manners" and just like the carrot had before her, Maulee jumped out the window and bounced off down the path.

Well it seems that this particular carrot had been waiting in the fridge for a very long time to be let out.  He had been planning to escape at the supermarket with a very kind cabbage he had met, but he had been so tired and had fallen asleep.  When he awoke he was already in the very cold fridge and that had made him very, VERY grumpy.  But now he was out in the sunshine and feeling a lot happier.  

"Hmmm" said the carrot to himself. "I wonder where I can go now."

Well by now, Maulee bunny was on the carrot's trail.  She had a nose that was very good at sniffing out carrots.  She bounced down the path and out the gate.  She bounced down the street and over the crossing - being very careful to look both ways first.  And then she bounced towards the school yard - until she caught sight of the juicy, big carrot.  

"Hey" yelled Maulee to the carrot "Hey Mr Carrot - I want to talk to you"

It may not surprise you to learn that most carrots like to avoid rabbits when ever possible.  After all, they are the favourite food of most bunnies.  And this carrot was no different.  He didn't want to talk to Maulee.  He was scared of Maulee.  The carrot thought that if he let Maulee get too close that she would gobble him up... and he DID NOT want to be bunny-breakfast.

So the carrot began to run.  And he ran as fast as his little orange carrot legs could go.  He ran past the school yard, around the corner, up a hill.. but then his little legs got too tired.  And he had to sit down for a rest.

Maulee quickly caught up with the carrot and sat down beside him.

"Please don't eat me" puffed the carrot.

"Oh you silly carrot" laughed Maulee. "I don't want to eat you.  I just wanted to talk to you.  You gave us all a big fright."

"Well I am sorry" said the carrot, who was beginning to feel a little braver.  But he was ready to run away again if Maulee started to look hungry. " But I did not want to be your breakfast.  And your fridge was so cold.  I just wanted to get out and feel warm again".

"Hmm" said Maulee. "Well no one wants to eat you at my house.  But you may not be so safe out here.  Would you like to come home with me.  I promise that you won't have to go in the fridge again.  In fact Mummy has a nice garden you could live in.  I am sure she would not mind".

Well the carrot thought that was a lovely idea.  So he and Maulee went back to the house together. And Mummy was very happy to let Mr Carrot live in her garden, where he spent his days sitting under the shady leaves and his nights singing "woo-hoo-hilly-op" to the moon.

And when Mummy went to the supermarket - she was always very careful not to put any more big, juicy, TALKING carrots into her shopping bag.