BUNNIEEEEESSSSS!

i go for occasional work-day walks down a little trail that falls between two suburban streets... on either side is someone's backyard, lush and green in the springtime. it's shady and pretty (wild strawberries!) and perfect for a walk, even if it is very short (12 minutes from the office door to the end of the trail). the trail actually continues on, but it's not as pretty or shady, so i always turn around.

two days ago i was on my little jaunt, coming back up the trail, when i saw a bunny. CUTE! the bunny was hanging out by some shrubby bushes or bushy shrubs or whatever one would call the low-lying plant life that's thick enough to harbor a squirrel or other small rodent (bunny!). i was a ways off, so the bunny was mostly just a shape. it hopped in my direction, then off into the brush... then another bunny followed behind it! kinda like they were playing tag.

as i approached, a bunny (bunny one? bunny two? additional, so far unseen bunny?) hopped out of the brush and sat looking at a bird (a brown thrush, i think, but for those of you familiar with the nuthatch/wren incident, i won't mind if you don't believe me). the bird was being birdy, pecking and pulling at something, possibly a bit of plant life it desired for its nest. bunny sat and watched and then hopped into the brush.

then the best part happened -- a bunny came out of the brush HOPPING DIRECTLY AT ME. i was even afraid for a moment that it might be rabid (rabid rabbit). it veered off course at the last minute, going back into the brush alongside the trail... and ANOTHER BUNNY FOLLOWED IT, HOPPING DIRECTLY TOWARDS ME. like they were playing tag! but this one spooked a little further away, and stopped and looked at me.

the bird, for those of you who care, has decided to hang out a little higher off the ground and flitted to the top of a small fence just behind the brush.

after the bunny stopped, it made a sudden start and veered toward the brush... then stopped... then darted off, into the brush.

so, i wonder -- one really fast bunny? or two pretty fast really playful bunnies? or a horde of bunnies, frolicking one after another, watching birdy bunny buddies?

i like the last thought.