Tish Rabe - Thump!/The Lost Egg

Its my favorite meal. I just finished breakfast, but thats no big deal. My moms home, said Nick, but I dont know where. Im afraid shell walk in and I wont know shes there! Aha! said the Cat. I know just what to do. I know a rabbit and she can help you.

Her name is Twitch and she has a neat trick. She gives early warnings. I need that! said Nick. Off to Scadiddle-dee-Dale the Cat and kids flew, to visit with Twitch and her whole family, too. Sally saw a rabbit with pretty brown fur. Cat, she said, is that your friend Twitch? Is that her? But Twitch was so scared by the noise that they made, she jumped into a hole! Nick said, Shes afraid.

Twitch! called the Cat. Were your friends. Please dont go. I brought Nick and Sally. Youll like them, I know. Slowly, out of the hole came one long, fluffy ear.

Then the next ear came out, and Twitch said, Catyoure here! When rabbits hear loud sounds, we cant help it. Twitch sighed. The rabbit solution is run, duck, or hide! Yikes! Twitch cried out. Hide behind those rocks. I just now heard something that might be a fox! The Cat had no time. The fox screeched to a stop.

Did a rabbit pass by, going hippity-hop? The Cat said, Im a flower. I have nothing to say. Strange flower, the fox said as he walked away. Howd you know, Nick asked Twitch, that a fox was around? I could hear, she replied, his feet hitting the ground. Rabbits like me can hear very well. Now come on, everyone. Now come on, everyone.

You should all follow me. I want you to meet my rabbit family. Here are Willy and Nilly and Billy and Spike, Millie and Molly and Maggie and Mike. We like eating lettuce in a nice, grassy patch, but a predator like the fox eats food he can catch. Ive taught all my kits there is reason to fear anytime that a predator just might be near. Thats right, said Spike.

So whenever we munch, we make sure that we dont become anyones lunch. We need to be careful at all times. Thats why we sniff to find out if a predators nearby. And if troubles coming, we make a loud sound. We thump our back feet really hard on the ground. We look, listen, and sniff and give warnings each day.

Thats how we stay alive. Hip-hip-hip-hop-hooray! Back home, Nick said, My salads all done. I hope my mom likes it. Its my very first one. Your moms coming! said Sally. I smell her perfume.

I can hear her and see her in the dining room. Surprise, Mom! yelled Nick. And his mom jumped a mile. That salad looks great, she said with a smile. Happy birthday! said Nick. Mom, we knew it was you.