The Pink Rabbit

The Pink Rabbit(Number Kruncher) The new Grampy Toy Store in Sunville is packed with kids and parents. The shelves are bursting with the new toys, all beautifully lined up according to types. The aisle with soft toys is the particular favorite with the crowd.

Excited kids could be heard convincing parents to buy them their chosen toy. As it was almost the holiday season, parents relented. Kids walked out with huge grins plastered on their faces as they carried their new cottony friends.

It was 5 o’clock in the evening when the last customer walked out. The shop owner, Mrs. Graham, flipped the notice board to “Closed” and rolled down the shutters.

“It is a pretty good start, old man,” she told her husband, Mr. Graham.

“Indeed, kids were coming in non-stop with their parents. Come on dear, let’s get home. It has been a long day. We will tidy up the place tomorrow,” Mr. Graham replied.

Mrs. Graham hit the switch to turn off the lights as she shut and locked the back door. At the very click of the keys, everything else came alive.

The pretty pink rabbit by the name of Nicky stretched. Nicky reached out to her little handbag and fished out her makeup items. She started off by patting her fur and applying make-up.

Teddy the brown bear look at her and winked. “Hi pretty,” Teddy said. Nicky smiled shyly and looked away. She noticed that many toy rabbits had been picked by new owners.

All the other toys started to take life. The toy soldiers started marching on the floor after scaling down the shelf. Choo-choo-choo-choooo! The little train chugged on its wooden tracks on the little table.

At the corner of Nicky’s eyes, she caught a pair of glistening yellow eyes looking at her. The pair of eyes was moving towards her. She stood frozen. The owner of the eyes emerged. It is Stripey the tiger. He growled softly and extended a paw to Nicky.

Nicky precautiously took Stripey's paw and shook it lightly. Stripey started a conversation with Nicky. Stripey told Nicky he is from another toy shop faraway from Sunville.

Nicky felt very happy talking to Stripey. Stripey found Nicky different as other animals shy away from him. Some are afraid of him.

Nicky and Stripey chatted until midnight at the corner of the shelf. Then they fell asleep.

At the crow of Cockle-Doodle-Doo the rooster, the toys woke up and went back to their positions. Nicky hoped that Stripey would talk to her again tonight. Few hours later, the door lock clicked and the lights flickered on. The Grahams are back. They put the strewn toys back in place, cleaned the floors and wiped the shelves.

A steady stream of kids came into the store. Slowly, Nicky’s friends’ start to disappear off the shelf into the arms of delighted children.

A little girl picked her up and showed her to her mom. Nicky held her breath in. Is this my turn, she thought. She glanced at Stripey.

But the little girl’s mom told her today is not the day as little girl will be getting a new Barbie instead. Looking slightly disappointed, little girl put Nicky back on the shelf.

Nicky sighed with relief. She knows that soon, either she or Stripey will have to go first. Nicky slumped. She could feel Stripey's eyes burning at her back.

When the toys came to life that night Stripey sat next to Nicky. Nicky was not her usual vain self. In fact, she was more quiet. After much pestering, she told Stripey her worries.

“Stripey, I am afraid we will be separated soon. Kids are streaming in everyday,” Nicky said softly.

“I could see the horror in your eyes earlier, Nicky,” Stripey replied as he stroked her head.

“I don’t want to be separated from you,” Nicky sobbed into Stripey’s fur.

“Now, now, don’t cry yet. We will think of a solution,” Stripey comforted her. An idea came to his mind.

“Nicky, why don’t you sit between my paws? Then it will look like we come together. Kids will most likely want to have us together,” Stripey suggested.

Nicky thought about it. I shall take the chance, she thought.

Without wasting any time, she hopped into Stripey’s open paws. Felt so warm and comfy. Nicky is liking her new place.

Her swollen tired eyes made her sleepy and tired after awhile. She fell asleep into a blissful dream in Stripey’s paws. Every other day since that night, Nicky would be snuggled up to Stripey.

To be less obvious to the crowd of children and the Grahams, Stripey sat at the back of the shelf. Stripey and Nicky has been inseparable ever since then.

One day though, a little girl named Wendy came to the shelf. Wendy likes tigers a lot.
She squealed with delight when she saw Stripey and Nicky together. She cuddled Stripey for awhile. Both Stripey and Nicky held their breaths.

Both thought if they are fated to have an owner, they would. But they want to end up together.

Wendy ran to her father and excitedly told him, “daddy, I want this tiger and rabbit! They are so cute!!”

Daddy looked at both toys and said, “but the tiger will bite the rabbit…”

“But daddy, both look so cute. Please….? I will look after them,” Wendy tried to convince her father.

Looking at his daughter’s innocent face, he relented.

“Alright, you will have both. But you have to take care of them, ok?” Daddy relented. Wendy nodded enthusiastically.

Stripey and Nicky eyed at each other. They are both happy they are going to a new home together.

Wendy stroked them lovingly as her father passed her the paper bag containing her new toys. She didn’t waste any time pulling out the toys from the bag the moment she reached home.

On the little girl’s bed, is Stripey and Nicky’s new place. Both smiled with contentment. They are together and their new owner seems like a nice person after all.

Nicky buried her head in Stripey’s furry neck as they watched their owner slumbered in dreamland. “I'm glad we’re together,” Nicky whispered. Stripey rubbed his furry chin on her head as his sign of approval. Back to her vanity maintenance, she whipped out her mirror and smoothened out her fur.