Week 6 Story: The Problems of the Rabbit
Author's Note: This story was written in the similar style and parts inspired by "The Foolish, Timid Rabbit" in Jakata Tales by E. C. Babbitt. I've reorganized the story to fit another moralistic notion that was told in a story heard by Dan Western, called "The Wise Man."
Once upon a time, there was a happy Rabbit, living under a log in the forest.
The Rabbit spends his days scurrying around the forest, looking at rocks, flowers, the skies. The Rabbit was ever so enjoying his life. Wherever he went, his smile and ecstatic attitude spread to whoever he talks to!
His neighbors, the fox, the squirrels, never quite knew why the Rabbit was so happy all the time. But they can't help but to be happy whenever he comes along.
The Rabbit has a special place inside his log where he kept his supply of food. He wasn't a hoarder, but it was his happy supply, and he was willing to share with those who needed it.
One day, after a tiring day of frolicking through the forest and picking up a day's supply of food, he came home to his log ransacked. Everything was out of place. And to make it worse, his bundle of food was missing. He's been robbed!
The Rabbit asked his neighbor, the fox, and the fox doesn't know what happened. He then went to ask he squirrels, but they knew nothing about it either.
The Rabbit, being the beacon of joy that he was, became sad and angry.
Day in and day out, he became sadder and angrier. His neighbors, the fox and the squirrels didn't know what was going on with him.
Due to his sadness and anger, such emotions spread to the whole village of animals in the forest. The fox became bitter about himself that he wasn't fast enough as his brother fox. The squirrels became jealous about the trees in other forests, which were much taller and bigger than theirs. The monkeys became angry that he wasn't able to climb as well as the other monkeys in the village.
They all came to the leader of the forest, the Lion, for help.
Day by day, animals coming by the dozens came to complain to the Lion about their problems. The Lion would try to help out the animals, but to no avail. He grew frustrated and tired about the animals coming in and asking them about little problems in their lives, with some they can't control.
The Rabbit was a daily visit for him, after complaining to him about the robbery, he came back again and again, complaining about how the grass in the forest were no longer as green. He came back to complain about how the skies were never as blue anymore. He came to complain about how the the people in the forest were never as happy around him anymore. It was the same problems again and again.
At last the Lion became angry. He calmly stopped and told the Rabbit a joke. It was a funny joke, and the Rabbit, even though sad and angry now, couldn't help but laugh at the joke.
Day by day, all the animals that came to him, the Lion told him the same joke, over and over again.
After the 5th visit, after complaining about yet the same issues, the Rabbit asked the Lion to tell him another funny joke. The Lion proceeds to tell the Rabbit the same joke. But this time the Rabbit wasn't laughing. He asked the Lion:
"Why are you telling the same joke over and over again?"
The Lion smirked and replied, "My dear Rabbit, If I tell you the same joke over and over again, it stops being funny. You can't always laugh at the same jokes that's been told over and over again, so why are you whining and crying over the same issues over and over?"
The End
Once upon a time, there was a happy Rabbit, living under a log in the forest.
The Rabbit spends his days scurrying around the forest, looking at rocks, flowers, the skies. The Rabbit was ever so enjoying his life. Wherever he went, his smile and ecstatic attitude spread to whoever he talks to!
His neighbors, the fox, the squirrels, never quite knew why the Rabbit was so happy all the time. But they can't help but to be happy whenever he comes along.
The Rabbit has a special place inside his log where he kept his supply of food. He wasn't a hoarder, but it was his happy supply, and he was willing to share with those who needed it.
One day, after a tiring day of frolicking through the forest and picking up a day's supply of food, he came home to his log ransacked. Everything was out of place. And to make it worse, his bundle of food was missing. He's been robbed!
The Rabbit asked his neighbor, the fox, and the fox doesn't know what happened. He then went to ask he squirrels, but they knew nothing about it either.
The Rabbit, being the beacon of joy that he was, became sad and angry.
Day in and day out, he became sadder and angrier. His neighbors, the fox and the squirrels didn't know what was going on with him.
Due to his sadness and anger, such emotions spread to the whole village of animals in the forest. The fox became bitter about himself that he wasn't fast enough as his brother fox. The squirrels became jealous about the trees in other forests, which were much taller and bigger than theirs. The monkeys became angry that he wasn't able to climb as well as the other monkeys in the village.
They all came to the leader of the forest, the Lion, for help.
Day by day, animals coming by the dozens came to complain to the Lion about their problems. The Lion would try to help out the animals, but to no avail. He grew frustrated and tired about the animals coming in and asking them about little problems in their lives, with some they can't control.
The Rabbit was a daily visit for him, after complaining to him about the robbery, he came back again and again, complaining about how the grass in the forest were no longer as green. He came back to complain about how the skies were never as blue anymore. He came to complain about how the the people in the forest were never as happy around him anymore. It was the same problems again and again.
At last the Lion became angry. He calmly stopped and told the Rabbit a joke. It was a funny joke, and the Rabbit, even though sad and angry now, couldn't help but laugh at the joke.
Day by day, all the animals that came to him, the Lion told him the same joke, over and over again.
After the 5th visit, after complaining about yet the same issues, the Rabbit asked the Lion to tell him another funny joke. The Lion proceeds to tell the Rabbit the same joke. But this time the Rabbit wasn't laughing. He asked the Lion:
"Why are you telling the same joke over and over again?"
The Lion smirked and replied, "My dear Rabbit, If I tell you the same joke over and over again, it stops being funny. You can't always laugh at the same jokes that's been told over and over again, so why are you whining and crying over the same issues over and over?"
The End
(The Rabbit. Source: Wikimedia)
Hi Long! What a fantastic story. I really enjoyed this a lot. The ending was 100% one of my favorite endings I have ever read in a story. If I had to suggest anything, it would be to extent the author's note. While most of us read the Timid Rabbit story, it has been a while. I would just suggest explaining the main points of the original story and then explaining how you uses those points, or did not use those points, in your version. Putting it at the top of the page is a great idea by the way! Overall, super good job and awesome story!
ReplyDeleteHi Long!
ReplyDeleteI love the message you get while reading your story! The way you were able to retell the original one by Babbitt was wonderful! The ending was great and makes you think to yourself and say "You are right lion I should not keep crying about the same issues I have, I need to get my life figured out". I also really like the spacing you did for this story it made it easy to follow along to.
Long,
ReplyDeleteI love this so much! I actually wrote a story that was inspired by the exact same one and although you and I have different characters, they have the same story line, as well as a rabbit as a character. I enjoyed reading your work and love the message that you have given behind your story! Awesome work!
Hi Long! I thought this story was pretty well-written, and well arranged in your own voice. I think the moral of the story was very effective as well, because we've all been in the situation of having a friend complain to us over and over again while not taking steps to solve their problems.
ReplyDeleteHey Long! I liked how to chose to capitalize the "R" in rabbit throughout the whole story. For some reason, it reminded me of how God is always written with a capital G, making the rabbit seem to have some sort of higher power above the rest. I'm not sure if you meant to do this but I think it adds a subtle message to the overall lesson.
ReplyDeleteHi Long! I thought this was an interesting way to show how the rabbit affected the forest. I think this is something that can be more readily seen in our daily lives than people claiming the earth is shattering and running in packs. I found it refreshing to see you change up how this story works and take a different route than the original text
ReplyDeleteHey Long. I really enjoyed reading this story. I like how you were able to make changes to the original and still get the lesson across to the reader. The Jakata Tales were some of my favorite readings this semester so I really enjoyed this story from you. Great job with this story, keep up the good work!
ReplyDelete