A tiny squeak popped from the nursery nook.
Thistlehop dropped a carrot block with a clack and raced down the snug tunnel.
At the doorway, he stopped. In the nursery nook was a brand-new baby rabbit wrapped in a soft clover blanket.
"Hello," whispered Thistlehop. "I can show you how to be a rabbit."
He gave a proud thump. He made a big hop. He wiggled a daisy under the little nose.
The baby only yawned. Then—achoo!—daisy fluff puffed right into Thistlehop's whiskers. "Oh," said Thistlehop.
So Thistlehop tried being careful instead.
He patted the nursery moss flat and tiptoed in with his biggest careful steps.
When the baby began to fuss with squeaky peeps, Thistlehop gave the seed-pod rattle a soft shake.
Click-click. The baby went still and listened.
Thistlehop leaned close and shook it one more time.
But the baby rabbit reached out and grabbed Thistlehop's paw instead.
Thistlehop smiled. He stayed right there.
After that, each day he sat by the nursery nook.
He shook the little rattle. He fetched soft clover leaves. "Come on, little one," he whispered.
Sometimes Thistlehop hopped to the burrow door to show the baby the sunny grass outside. The baby kicked and squeaked and watched him, and the whole burrow filled with happy little sounds.
