The Guise Of Friendship
By: Darik Maurice
One day, a bunny rabbit named Harry was hopping through the forest, doing his regular hop. While he was bouncing along, he noticed something shiny and white through the thick green lush of the forest. Being the curious bunny that he was, Harry decided to go check out what this alien thing might be. When Harry got closer, it became apparent to him that it was a beautiful white stallion with a horn sticking out of its head.
“Ahem,” Harry started, “excuse me?”
The white horse looked down at the gray bunny rabbit, teary eyed.
“Yes? What do you want?” The horse asked.
“I was just wondering—what exactly are you?”
“I’m a unicorn; a mystical creature from far away. I came here to get a drink from the spring, but I can’t find it…and now I’m lost.” The unicorn began to cry again.
“No, no! Don’t cry! I just want to be friends.”
“Friends? What’s a friend? Oh, and what is your name?”
“My name is Harry! What’s yours?” Harry was very intrigued.
“My name is Lightning—now what is a friend?”
“Oh, a friend is someone who is kind and caring for others,” Harry said. He could not believe his pointy ears that Lightning had not heard of a friend before.
“But,” Lightning said, “one cannot always be kind and caring. It is very difficult.”
“That is true,” Harry replied, “but friends also forgive. Now, forgiving doesn’t mean saying that what they did was right. It means that what they did is passed off and cannot affect the friendship.”
“I see!” exclaimed Lightning. “Now, tell me—what would a friend do for a friend?”
“Follow me,” said Harry, and he hopped deeper into the forest.
Of course, Lightning followed and wondered where Harry was taking him. Lightning slowed down a bit. What if he’s taking me to do harmful things to me?
“Come on!” yelled Harry. Lightning galloped after his voice.
Harry and Lightning came to an open space, surrounded by bountiful fruit trees. Right in the middle of the clearing was a wonderful spring, sparkling with crystal blue water.
“Oh! Joy! The spring!” Lightning galloped over to the spring and took several slurps of the refreshing water. Once he was satisfied, he went over to a tree and ate three apples. Lighting turned to Harry: “Thank you so much! You are a true friend.”
“So, you now know what a true friend is?” Harry questioned. Lightning nodded. “One more thing,” Harry whispered. “Friends trust each other. I saw doubt in your eyes as we ventured here. There must be honesty and trust in a friendship.” Harry smiled.
“Well, thank you very much, but I must be going now.” Lightning started through the forest when—
“Wait!” Harry yelled. Lightning turned around.
“What is it?” Lightning smiled, expecting something more.
“Umm, well,” Harry tapped his foot. “See, before I can be a friend to you, I must be a friend to my family.”
Lightning heard the bushes all around him start to rustle. He anxiously looked around and then watched as at least twenty more bunnies hopped out from the shadows. They were salivating.
“Please, forgive me,” Harry said. “After all, that’s what friends do, right?”
The bunnies started to close in on Lightning as he wished he had never gotten lost.