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The task was easy, they got a rabbit for the whole class to take care of, it lives in the school, with homeroom plastered with silly drawings of the pet, the cage it is ample enough, the fluffy thing has its schedule about who gets to take it for the weekend, and who feeds it throughout the day.
It is cute, some boys start a war with its pellets poo, and the girls have to demonstrate a good ribbon on their own hair before attempting to swaddle the animal with their hair accessories. The teacher might have nailed the lesson about responsibility with this, having middle schoolers compete to be the bestest animal parent.
Yet they have an issue, the rabbit cannot move with them to high school, as other things left in childhood, it can only live in the hazy memory of good times and petty fights.
Jackie Taylor had a tantrum about it, they all knew she was the closest to the pet, with hardly a day without her instructions of handling and sometimes meddling with other kids' feeding rights, she always had a winning smile and bouncy wavy curls that made her seem like an angel and the teacher's preferred choice.
So, when little Akilah got a random invitation to the famous Taylor’s mansion, she suspected teasing, lies, subterfuge, and a bad joke. Her mother still dressed her to the nines and chatted stiffly with Mrs. Taylor, all white teeth and wrung hands just before the bouncy thing appeared, leaping on the staircase, the girl running excitedly behind the animal.
“Oh, you came, let’s go!”
And Jackie Taylor, who only had kind words for her grumpy shadow, Shauna Shipman, grabs Akilah and drags her into her big living room. A wooden heavy door was pushed aside and brought into the quiet place a sliver of green and fun. From afar, Akilah sees her mother repeat the key facts, phone number, full name, time to get picked up. But in the whirlwind of having the bunny shoved into her arms, she almost doesn’t register the interaction.
“Wait, what’s happening?”
“Oh, you see, poor guy was lonely, after all the kids went on holiday,” Jackie chit-chats, pulling out a blanket with carrot pillows to match.
“You left him?” Akilah squeaks, forgetting her manners as the bunny zooms out of her arms and attacks the pillows.
“No, silly,” Jackie’s smile doesn’t falter at all by the pouty tone she uses, “that’s why I am still here in the city, can you believe it? My mom hates me.”
“Oh, okay, uhm,” Akilah isn't sure what to answer, so she just holds up some lettuce Jackie brought on a pink cloche.
The bunny seems to recognize the sound of the metallic platter, trotting towards Akilah to snatch at the leafy snack.
“Aww, look how he is going at it, he missed you,” Jackie coos, her fingers grazing over the rabbit’s fur before gripping Akilah’s hand.
“Huh? Jackie?”
“You should come over more!” Jackie exclaims all in one breath, almost rushed, then, as if Akilah’s burned her, she retreats her hand, coughing tiny over her shoulder and looking over her ginormous backyard. “I only meant, you were so good with the bunny at the school, you should come over and see him.”
The words, the slightly flushed pink on her face, and the refusal to even look at her make Akilah even more confused, all this evening feeling like a prolonged prank of unknown stakes.
The bunny kicks her, and Jackie goes for another leaf to offer at the same time as Akilah, again, retreating with a jolt.
“Sorry!”
“Are you alright?” Akilah asks, actually worried, although if Jackie keeps this up, she could just walk out; her mom always said that, if somebody makes you uncomfortable, you don’t take it, you leave.
However, she does want to see the bunny more. “How would it work? Coming here for Mr. Rabbit?”
“Oh, just like with Shauna’s dad, coordinated days and visits.” Jackie almost recovers some of her carefree attitude, then grimaces at her own words. “Oh, shit, I mean, shoot, I didn’t say that, don’t—”
Akilah doesn’t mean to chuckle, it even comes up at first a bit nervously, but she starts to shake, trying to contain the silly laughter. Jackie almost looks like a real girl, stammering around her plan of getting rabbit hours with all the hoops, toys, and leafy greens Akilah could want.
“You are actually funny,” Akilah snorts, patting her hand and letting Mr. Rabbit move onto her lap, maybe it’d soothe whatever ailment is making her act like a fool.
“Uhm, thanks? Ha,” Jackie stops fretting and instead pets the rabbit slowly, the animal relaxing on her hands. “You know, you’re actually very cute, for being so shy.”
“Uh-huh, mhm?”
“Or just quiet, I don’t— you do your thing, and you’re good at it, and look cute but don’t flaun— Okay, you don’t have to answer any of that.” Jackie gets her tongue–tied again, and Akilah is so sure she was insulted right there, but then she continues, slowly, almost whispering to the rabbit rather than talking to Akilah. ”I always knew I was a bad fit for Girl Scouts, but you wear it well.”
“Wait, what? Where did you see me?”
“You were selling cookies!, remember? My dad paid for like three dozen.”
Akiilah makes memory, struggling to pinpoint the moment of the day, but she does remember the order, that was a long and fruitful sale as a whole; and just like that, she is smiling, too, “Oh, was that you? I think you could sell well.”
“Nah, not for me,” Jackie cuts her off, apologetic. She lets the rabbit hop between them, inspect the grass, stretch its legs. “Not a fan of collecting badges, but the group always seemed nice.”
“Yeah, they’re a riot.”
“Oh? Watch this.” Jackie suddenly gets up, stomping on her feet until the rabbit bolts, and behind it off she goes, another giggling race just as the one she was doing when Akilah came.
“Aren’t you scaring him?”
“No, no, that’s how we play!” Jackie yells and turns around, the rabbit stopping the race to jump next to her, almost taunting her into moving again.
Swift as the wind Jackie rushes to Akilah, almost colliding with her before exclaiming she is tagged. Akilah stumbles at the code word, but begins to put some speed into her pace, confusing the rabbit until they both corner it together.
The prize is merely carrot cake cupcakes, adapted with kibble for the animal, and decorated with cream cheese for the girls.
“What’s this all about?” Akilah finally asks, licking the frosting from her lips.
Jackie takes a minute to answer, contemplating Akilah and Mr. Rabbit alike.
“i don’t know, everything is changing, Shauna is in a rough patch, and next year… ” Akilah frowns at her words, she's not going to become some Shauna’s replacement, right? She swallows her dessert quickly, ready to stop Jackie if she needs to. “I love running, always did, but it is not lady-like to play like that.”
“Lady-like?” Akilah giggles, such a nonsensical worry.
“Oh, shut up. It’s just that. I’m going to miss it, and Girl Scouts are one of the few options my mom offered, and it reminded me of you.”
“Seriously?”
“Sure, you are so kind, and clever, and what do the teachers say? Pro-active?”
“I think they just like not doing their jobs.” Akilah isn’t following Jackie’s line of thought at all. “You literally kept the teacher’s pet and are the teacher’s pet, what do I have on you?”
“Everything that matters, I think, ah.” Jackie sighs and throws herself onto the blanket, lying on her back as she wistfully explains in dreamy tones. “I want to play soccer, I don’t think I’m gonna have many friends there, so if you ever get bored with all your badges, I aim for trophies.”
“Is that why you made me run?” Akilah snorts, lying down next to her. The day is beautiful, not too hot, skies dappled with soft clouds. “Are we friends?”
“I—uhm, I would like us to be. I can hardly co-parent Mr. Rabbit with a stranger.”
Akilah smiles, stretching her hand until she touches Jackie’s across the grass, she links their fingers together, and the bunny sniffs with curiosity.
“Where do I sign his papers, then?”