Part 2
hopped to the apple tree and sat down in the shade of it's branches.
From the window she watched as he stretched one long hind leg straight out in front of himself and began to groom.
So beautiful! So perfect, she thought.
Just as Shoo had been before the rabbit's little body was completely marred by the attack that had taken him from her.
The one leg evidently sufficient, he stretched forth the other,
licking his fur with long thorough licks.
But suddenly he stopped in the task at hand and looked in the direction of the rainbow which still colored the sky.
Ears alert, leg still stretched, he listened.
"What do you hear, little one?" she whispered.
Quietly she lifted the storm door window slightly higher, displaying more of the screen.
Now, she too heard what had caught the little rabbit's attention.
From somewhere in the not too far distance, she could hear voices.
Human voices.
Joyous voices that seemed coming from the direction of the rainbow.
She listened intently as another sound reached her ears.
Animals, she wondered? Had she also heard the clear barking of a dog?
She pressed her ear closer.
Yes, she had heard a dog bark and definitely more than one.
Many.
She also thought she heard other animal voices, but not as clearly as the happy barks of the dogs.
The little rabbit pulled his leg back beneath himself but still sat transfixed, staring off into the distant rainbow colored sky.
She wondered what would happen if she went outside.
Would the sight or sound of her frighten the cottontail away?
She put her thumb on the latch undecided.
The voices seemed growing louder. More distinct.
Holding the latch and standing on tip toes she endeavored to see the source of the joyful sounds,
but saw no one.
Opening the door as quietly as possible she stepped outside.
The little cottontail turned and looked in her direction.
Up he came running, taking his place by the back porch step,
looking up at her expectantly.
She saw the familiar trust mirrored in his eyes.
No, she thought! It couldn't be!
"Shoo?" she whispered softly.
Her eyes literally drank in every part of him.
His beautiful brown fur glistened in the afternoon sun.
His gentle face once again mirrored the perfection his Creator had given him.
His long back legs were strong,
no longer tucked in death's defeat.
And his cotton tail! Snow white again and so beautiful!
Tears of joy filled her eyes and her throat closed with emotion.
Shoo-Fly held his place by the food bowl still looking up at her expectantly.
Suddenly she laughed, realizing what he was waiting for.
"Your treats!" she joyfuly exclaimed. "You are waiting for your treats!"
Darting back into the house, she retrieved the bag lying on the table.
If she had been mistaken, this would tell.
No other wild rabbit had ever taken food directly from her hand except Shoo.
Coming out and sitting down on the step once again she looked at the little rabbit beside her.
Purposely she dropped one of the little puff treats at his feet.
He looked at the puff and then looked at her.
She took another treat from the bag and held it out to him.Gently he took it from her hand.
"Oh, Shoo!" she quietly spoke the beloved name. "It really is you!"
Once again they sat together.
She gave her treat loving friend MANY treats and then went back inside the house for an apple.
A red Delicious awaited her in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator and she carefully sliced it into chunks.
She remembered that Mother's Day morning over thirty years ago when she had seen that the red Delicious was the only apple left and had made a mental note to herself to go to the store later in the day for more.
Of course, by the end of that day, the trip was no longer necessary.
There would be no more apples shared between them.
But now, here he was with her again and the apple was waiting to be shared!
Coming back to the porch she saw Shoo lying in the tall grass in the flower bed,
making an indentation right where she had seen the grass nestled down earlier.
Upon seeing her return he rose and stretched, bunny style, chest to the ground and cottontail up...
and came to the step to eat the apple with his friend.
In the distance voices could still be heard coming from the direction of the rainbow.
She sat with Shoo-Fly and listened.
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