Grandmother's Teeth

Chapter 16 Old Jack

As the moon crept across the sky and the chill of the morning began to take hold. Rose forced herself to get up though instinct told her to burrow deeper into her blankets. She had stayed dressed and only had to put on her boots. She began to climb outside slowly listening for Ivan’s snores as she went. They were consistent and soon she was outside using the very skills he had taught her to creep silently.

Once away she wanted to burst out laughing with triumph. The excitement of this escape far outweighed all of her past endeavors. She fought off this mad fever and contained herself. If animals were near they might sense her heightened emotions. She let the calm of the scenery wash over her. She imagined her heart as being one with the land.

Her approach to the garden in this manner was slow and worth it. For it was with no little wonderment that she beheld several little creatures that were as yet unaware of her presence.

They nibbled with a nervous speed, as if they had been starved all their lives. The greatest and tallest of them was white with great ears and a commanding presence over his grey furred troops. His eyes were as dark as coles. The whole of him seemed sprinkled with starlight for he sparkled even as the moon disappeared beyond the trees.

Excited, Rose made ready her sling. This was after all her reason for coming. Her father would not hesitate simply because an animal had attractive heirs, all the more reason to kill it. Still Rose was not her Father. After a moment of hesitation remembering why she had come she put down the sling. Better to see how her traps worked during this onslaught so she could figure out how to improve them. She remembered quite accurately where each snare lied along the bunny trails and among the bushes near the most tantalizing vegetables. She positioned herself to see if any of the animals approached them yet still stayed far enough away so she would not be seen or heard. Many of the little grey rabbits began to venture that direction, noses twitching with enticement.

Just as the tirade approached one of her best and most hidden setups, the white Jack took initiative and took the lead. Rose did not even dare to hope and yet with anticipation she saw he went right over the top of it. Rose watched the trap spring with a pride that was immediately shaken. The rabbit had not gone with it. Indeed the rope went into the air but the rabbit stood as if nothing had happened. He was not even surprised by the noise and movement that had been made while the rabble of grey bodies before him did startle and ebb.

Rose fumed, she was certain that his foot should have caught. It had landed just right. Perhaps it was only the view she had taken. Once she maneuvered herself to where more traps were placed and once again she was astounded by what she saw. The white rabbit went around setting off each trap in turn. Sometimes even sticking his great white head in them and working his paws like a man. And though she could not see clearly his motions the end result was an empty triggered trap that all the other rabbits could hop around. The onslaught of the garden continued. Worse, the amount they munched left holes more gaping and ugly than on the most worn pair of her father’s old socks.

Feeling injured may have driven Rose back more quickly to her original plan. Their leader seemed to be the only one with an amazing amount of intelligence. Without his protection the rest would not have had a clue that doom was so near. If she killed the leader they certainly would fall prey. She readied her sling this time with less remorse. The light of dawn was just beginning to appear in the sky. Up came white ears taunt and alert. Up came twenty or more ears after that. Up went legs and down went tails as every last creature hopped away down to the fields.

The last was the great white hopper vigilant in his protection as ever. Rose’s aim was true but she was bewildered, almost entranced when the creature turned at the edge of the field’s grain and stared right at her. It was as if he knew, perhaps had known the whole time that she was there. His ear tilted signifying as clear as a wink that he enjoyed the sport and then he vanished between shoots.

Rose blinked mouth agape. If she told this to anyone in the village she would be a laughing stock. For who would believe the great hunter’s daughter was being outwitted by a jack rabbit? Ultimately they would just think her silly in the head. After all she was a girl who wished to be a boy. It would be her traps that would be considered the folly and this just another tall yarn told by a less skilled student.

This also reminded her that she needed to return home for her Father’s morning exercise lessons. She stood up as brazen as the hare. She hoped that somewhere he was watching. “I am not going to give up.” She clenched her tiny fists as the morning breeze hit her and all the world sparkled anew. “I accept your challenge.”