Chapter Six: Bunny’s Family:

Bunny was a great kid. She wore rabbit ears on her head. She came just underneath my chin too. I love her and her weird family. I met them the summer after I met Yu. I stood in my backyard when I heard someone in the bushes.

“Hm?” I asked. “Who’s there?”

“Me,” a tiny voice answered. I tilted my head.

“Who is me?” I asked. Somebody stood up at my question. She looked pretty cute. I had never seen so many blonde curls in my life. I thought that she was an actual doll staring at me. Like Yu, she had some pretty eyes. They were bluer than the ocean I saw in picture books.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“Tell me who you are,” the girl said back.

“Sappoto,” I said. “Sappoto Delaney.”

“I’m Bunny,” she said. “Do you want to play?”

“Sure,” I said. Bunny held her hand out at me from the bush.

“Come with me,” she said. I took her hand and she led me through a small hole in our fence. I never knew of the woods behind the house. The trees looked like could go on forever and ever. Bunny pushed bushes out of her way as we walked.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“My house,” she answered.

“Where is that?” I asked.

“Just beyond these woods,” she said. I shrugged and tried my best to keep up with Bunny. She led me out of the forest and into this strange place. I had never seen so many houses on wheels. Puddles sat on mud instead of grass. There was even a big lady in a bathrobe walking a goat on a rope. I looked at all of the people hanging up their clothes on wire lines.

“Where are we?” I asked. Bunny turned to me, smiling.

“This is my home,” she said.

“Bunny!” someone yelled at us. We looked up to see another big woman in a rug-like dress walking towards us. She put her hands on her hips. “Where on earth have you been?” the big lady asked her. Bunny smiled and raced over to her.

“Mama J!” she exclaimed. The little girl hugged her by the legs. Mama J patted her on the head.

“Don’t do that again,” she said.

“Okay!” Bunny said.

“Uh…” I said. Bunny and Mama J looked up at me.

“Oh, who are you?” Mama J asked.

“Sappoto,” I said. “Sappoto Delaney.”

“She’s my friend!” Bunny said with a grin. The big lady gave me a funny look as she saw me.

“Is that right?” she asked.

“I guess,” I answered. Mama J looked me up and down before she smiled.

“Welcome to our home, Sappoto,” she said. “You’re just in time for lunch. Come and eat with us.”

“Okay,” I replied. I followed her and Bunny all the way to their house on wheels at the end of the muddy road. Theirs was the biggest one on the block. I tilted my head, confused.

“What’s wrong, darling? Never seen a trailer before?” Mama J asked. I shook my head.

“No,” I said. “I haven’t.”

“Well, this is our home,” Mama J told her. “Take it or leave it.”

“Alright,” I said without much thought. Mama J led us into the trailer up the heavy block steps.

“We’re back!” she shouted as she pushed off the thin screen door. A fat man on the couch lifted his head.

“Hi, baby!” he said with a wave.

“I found Bunny,” Mama J answered.

“Oh,” the man said. He looked down and saw me. “Baby, who’s that?” he asked. Bunny stepped forward with a grin on her face.

“This is my friend, Sappoto!” she said.

“Hi,” I said with a wave. Mama J patted me on the head.

“Sappoto, this is Chuck,” she said. The big man sat up on the couch.

“She looks so cute!” he said with his eyes on my face.

“Thanks…” I mumbled, looking down at my feet.

“Chuck!” Mama J shouted. “You’re creeping the girl out!” Chuck lowered his head.

“Sorry,” he said. Bunny’s mommy smiled at us.

“Let’s go eat,” she said.

“Yay!” we cheered. Mama J led us over to the kitchen. Bunny and I sat at the table. Mama J walked over to the fridge and pulled out two frozen meals.

“What are those?” I asked.

“TV dinners,” she said. I gave her a confused look. Mama J’s face dropped.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of a TV dinner,” she said. I shook my head.

“No,” I said. Bunny’s mommy looked at me funny.

“You’re an odd one,” she said.

“I guess…” I said. Mama J turned to the microwave and put the TV dinners inside. I never knew that mac and cheese, green vegetables, turkey with gravy, and chocolate cake could taste good in a TV dinner. They were a bit funny, but good. After lunch, Bunny and I played around her circle.

“Why do these homes have wheels?” I asked. Bunny’s right ear drooped as she shrugged at me.

“They just do,” she said.

“Why do you have those ears?” I asked. She reached up and felt on them.

“I like them,” she said. Bunny looked me in the eye. “Do you?” she asked. I smiled at her.

“Yeah!” I said. She grabbed onto my hands.

“Let’s be best friends,” Bunny said with a grin. I nodded at her slowly.

“Alright,” I said. I would end up seeing her around in my neighborhood more often. We played outside until sun went down. Mama J had to walk me home before dinner.