" Ben's Easter Bunny Story "
By: Lynne G.
Ben had
returned home that afternoon from a business trip to
As Easter was one week away, a story had popped into Ben's head while he was on his way home. It was about the Easter Bunny, and how he came to be.
Ben had decided to tell his story that evening after dinner while he and his family relaxed, plus the story would also make a good bedtime story for eleven year old Hoss and five year old Little Joe.
Ben knew that his two younger sons would enjoy the story especially Little Joe. Ben hoped that Adam and Hop Sing would enjoy the story as well.
Adam and Hoss sat in their chairs, while Little Joe sat on Ben's lap, in Ben's chair. Hop Sing sat on the settee. There was a nice fire burning in the fireplace and Hop Sing had made up a large batch of popcorn for the family to eat while they listened to Ben's story. Finally Ben began his story.
" Once upon a time, there lived a small bunny family. The family consisted of Johnny, the father, Mildred the mother, and their young bunny son, an only bunny, named Rocky. Rocky was very large for his age and no other bunnies wanted to play with Rocky because he was so big."
Little Joe giggled and he looked at Hoss and said, " he sounds big like Hoss, Papa." " Yes he does, doesn't he ?" Ben replied as he smiled at Hoss. Hoss smiled and he felt very proud because he and the Easter Bunny had something in common.
Ben continued, " As Rocky got older, he continued to get bigger and bigger, and soon he was the largest bunny ever. Rocky was also a very happy bunny, and he loved to help take care of all the smaller animals who also lived in the large pine forest.
"One day while Rocky was getting ready to take a nap, God began to speak to Rocky. " Rocky, you are a wonderful, and very caring bunny. You take great care of all my animals and you do many other good things for all of our forest friends. I have decided that I want you to be my Easter Bunny," God explained.
Rocky felt very honored that God wanted him to be the Easter Bunny, but he wasn't sure what he needed to do. " God, what do you want me to do?" Rocky asked.
" Rocky, on the night before Easter Sunday, I want you go to every house and give all the little children brightly colored Easter eggs. The children will leave their Easter baskets out for you to put the eggs in. Don't worry, because all the children will be sleeping, and they won't see you. I will give you a magic power so that no one can see you."
" After you have put brightly colored eggs in the baskets, you will hide them, so that in the morning when the children get up out of bed, they will have to go and search the house for their baskets. I know that you will do an excellent job for me Rocky," God finished telling Rocky.
" God, I feel so honored to be your Easter Bunny and I promise that I will do a wonderful job for you. Thank you for having so much trust in me," Rocky told God.
Little Joe sat there with his big bright green eyes wide open and his mouth open as he listened to Ben's story. Hoss was loving this story very much as were Adam and Hop Sing.
" Papa, is da Easter Bunny really gonna come here ta sees me and Hoss too?" a very excited Little Joe squealed.
Ben smiled at his youngest son, and replied, " Yes, I think he will stop by here for you boys." Ben winked at Adam and Hop Sing who smiled back at Ben.
" Papa, can I's stay up ta see da Easter Bunny please? Please?" the child begged.
" Oh, no you can't sweetheart. No one can see the Easter Bunny, but if he knows that any child is hiding in order to see him, or still awake in their beds, he won't stop at their house and leave Easter eggs," Ben explained.
Little Joe gasped and declared, " Imma good boy and I's will be sleepin', and then he will give me Easter eggs!" " Me too Punkin !" Hoss added.
" That's very good to know that the Easter Bunny won't have to worry about you boys being awake or sneaking around to see if you can see him," Ben happily said as he smiled at his two younger sons.
As Little Joe sat there listening to Ben's story, an idea suddenly popped into his head, and he spoke up, " Papa, what happens ta da Easter Bunny when Easter is over? What does da Easter Bunny do then?"
" Well Little Joe, the Easter Bunny is very tired after spending the night putting Easter eggs in baskets and then hiding all the baskets, so he needs a nice long sleep. Then when he wakes up from his sleep, he spends his time playing with and helping all of his animal friends, until the next Easter that next year," Ben explained. " Ooooh," Little Joe said.
" I'm sure glad I ain't that Easter Bunny," Hoss declared. " I would want ta eat some of them Easter eggs."
Little Joe looked over at Hoss and said very seriously, " Hoss, ya can't be no Easter Bunny cuz ya ain't no bunny. Yer a big boy, and ya have ta be a bunny ta be da Easter Bunny !" Hoss smiled as he tried not to laugh out loud at what his baby brother had just said. " Yup, I'm a big boy alright !"
Everyone got a big kick out of what Little Joe and Hoss had just said.
Ben's story was a big hit, and everyone loved it. Ben also enjoyed his story was well. Hoss and Little Joe couldn't wait for Easter to get there.
Finally, it was the night before Easter Sunday, and Hoss and Little Joe set out their Easter baskets next to the grandfather clock near the front door, before they went to bed for the night.
To Little Joe, this was almost as exciting as Christmas and his birthday. The little boy had been so excited all day and so full of energy, that Ben hoped that his little boy would be able to sleep that night.
Ben didn't have to worry about that, as Little Joe was very sleepy and he fell right to sleep as soon as his head hit his pillow. Hoss was looking forward to Easter Sunday, but he wasn't as excited as his little brother was, since he was older.
The thing that Hoss was really looking forward to was all the excitement that would be written all over his baby brother's face on Easter morning.
Easter Sunday morning arrived clear, very cold. The sunrise was a beautiful bright rose color as it came over the mountains. Ben never grew tired of watching the sunrise come over the mountains.
Soon the birds welcomed Easter morning with their loud chirping as they wished everyone a Happy Easter.
As soon as Little Joe woke up, he jumped out of his warm bed and he ran down the hall yelling, " HAPPY EASTER !" to his family. Downstairs his family had to smile as soon as they heard the excited little boy shouting.
" Here comes our little Easter boy !" Adam announced as soon as his baby brother came running down the stairs with a huge smile on his sweet little face.
" Happy Easter Little Joe !" his family and Hop Sing said. " Happy Easter everyone !" the little boy replied as he leaped into Ben's waiting arms.
" Papa, can we go lookin' fer our Easter baskets please?" the little boy asked. " Yes we can, but first I need to get you dressed," Ben suggested. " Oh goodie goodie !" Little Joe shouted.
After Little Joe was dressed, he and Hoss began to look around in the house for their Easter baskets. It didn't take them long to find their baskets.
Little Joe stood there with wide open eyes as he looked at his fully packed Easter basket full of brightly colored eggs, jelly beans, chocolate eggs, and a fuzzy stuffed bunny toy.
" Da Easter Bunny dun comed here Papa !" the little boy squealed. " He sure did Punkin," Hoss excitedly replied. Both boys had the same things in their baskets.
As soon as Ben saw the full baskets, he smiled and said, " Looks like the Easter Bunny was very good to both of you boys. He knows that you have both been very good boys this year."
As Little Joe was hugging his new bunny toy, he looked up at Ben and said, " Just like Santa is cuz we's so good, huh Papa?" " Yes son, just like Santa," Ben replied as he watched his two younger sons. " Almost good," Ben thought to himself.
" I's sure wuv my new bunny toy Papa. Ain't he cute ?" Little Joe declared as he held out his new toy for Ben to see. " He certainly is a cute bunny sweetheart, and so is Hoss's bunny too," Ben said as he looked at Hoss's bunny as Hoss held his up for Ben to see too.
" This is da bested Easter ever !" Little Joe shouted. Everyone agreed to that statement.
The End
HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!