The morning bell went ding inside the sunny oak-root classroom. Chatter bounced from the curved walls, loud and busy. But Quillton just squeezed his eyes tight and rolled into a perfectly still, prickly ball on the woven rug.
Clack! A painted wooden block bumped gently against his spines. He peeked one eye open. Over by the shelves, a badger was building a tall, wobbly tower. Quillton quickly pulled his snout back in and stayed completely round.
At lunchtime, the sweet smell of clover and mashed acorns filled the classroom hollow. Quillton wiggled his nose but stayed hidden beneath a wide mushroom stool. He waited for everyone to ignore him. But then, he heard a loud, frustrated groan.
Clink, clank, squeak! A little rabbit in a yellow sweater was tugging at the green latch of her tin lunchbox. The stubborn metal just wouldn't budge. With a heavy huff, she dropped her head right down onto the table.
With a sudden rustle, Quillton unrolled and marched right over. He wedged his strong little paws under the stubborn green latch and pushed upward as hard as he could. Pop! The lid flew open, sending a single, perfectly round blueberry bouncing high into the air.
The rabbit caught the blueberry with a giggle. She slid a tiny acorn sandwich across the table to say thank you. Quillton pulled up a little chair and started munching, happy to share a cozy, crunchy lunch with his brand-new friend.
