Hanausa
Matt was not very attractive, smart, or athletic. He had no special talents�or so he thought until the day that magic found him.
Matt was mowing his incredibly huge lawn for his father when he saw a white rabbit bounding into the nearby forest. He probably wouldn�t have paid any attention to it he hadn�t heard it mumble something about being late.
He instantly recalled the story of Alice and how she had also seen a white rabbit that was talking about being late. He was pretty sure that he wasn�t hallucinating; that rabbit had actually talked. Curious, he followed the animal into the forest.
The little creature was fast, especially when it realized that Matt was following it. It ran as fast as it could, and it was hard for Matt to keep up with his unfit body. He was so bewildered, however, that he ignored his pounding heart, straining lungs, and heavy perspiration. Soon, the rabbit ran into a clearing and stopped abruptly. Matt did also and grabbed a tree for support, feeling like he could collapse at any moment.
The rabbit�s ears were down as it said tentatively, �Oh, I must�ve taken a wrong turn. Where am I?�
Matt started to come closer to the rabbit. He stepped on a branch, and the rabbit whirled around when it heard the snap. Its eyes were wide with fear as fear as it pleaded, �Don�t hurt me. Please, don�t!�
Matt shook his head, �I�m not going to hurt you, I just��
�What? You can understand me? I�ve never seen a human that could speak my language before,� the rabbit said, very confused.
It then hit Matt that the rabbit wasn�t talking; he was able to understand its language! He said quietly, �I guess I am just able to communicate with rabbits. Did you say you were lost?�
The rabbit nodded, �I don�t know where I am. I know that home is close by when I see a big, red rock, and I don�t see it anywhere!�
Matt shielded his eyes from the sun as he looked around. He pushed his glasses higher up on the bridge of his nose as he searched intently for a big, red rock. He shrugged and said, �All I see is a small red rock.�
�Well, take me there! Maybe it�s around there somewhere!� the rabbit said hopefully.
Matt led the little rabbit over to the rock. It squeaked with happiness, �This is it! This is the big red rock!�
Matt raised a brow, �This is it? It doesn�t look that big.�
�What are you talking about? It�s huge!� the rabbit countered.
�That thing could fit in my arms easily!� exclaimed Matt.
�Well, it may be small to you, but it�s big to me!� the rabbit said bitterly.
Matt couldn�t argue with that. He decided to drop the subject and asked, �So, where do we go from here?�
The rabbit smiled and hopped to a hidden burrow. Matt couldn�t fit inside, so he waited until the little white rabbit came back out with an older rabbit right behind it.
The older rabbit chuckled, �So, you�ve met my granddaughter. You are truly blessed, human.�
Matt blushed, �I didn�t know I could talk to rabbits, and I don�t think I can talk to any other animal.�
�So, then, you are a Hanausa, or �one who speaks with rabbits�,� the grandfather rabbit informed.
Matt nodded cautiously, and then asked, �So, what is your granddaughter�s name?�
The little white rabbit looked down at the ground. The older rabbit said, �We are not like humans. We do not possess names. However, if it would be easier for you, you may give her a name.�
Matt studied the little rabbit, who hopping up and down happily. He grinned as he thought of the perfect name, �I will call her �Bunny�.�
For the next week, Matt spent most of his time with Bunny, who became his best and only friend. They would explore the woods, fish in the stream, and stare at the clouds in the sky, debating on what each cloud looked like.
By the end of that first glorious week, Bunny revealed her secret desire to be a human.
�I want to be big like you, Matt! I want to tower over the smaller creatures of this forest! I want to be part of the dominate race!�
�That�s great, Bunny, but how will you become human?� Matt asked.
Bunny�s ears flattened out on her head as she sighed, �I do not know, but I so want to! I want to be human! I�m tired of being in this little body! I�m tired of having to keep my white fur looking nice, and I�m really tired of this puffy tail!�
Matt wished he could do something to help Bunny. One day at school, his instructor was talking about legends. The one that really caught Matt�s attention was the one about a musical and magic instrument that would grant the heart�s desire. When he met up with Bunny after-school, he told her about the magic instrument, and Bunny was instantly excited.
�Ooh, we must find this instrument! We must!� Bunny cried excitedly.
�It�s a legend, though. I don�t think it exists,� said Matt.
�Well, why don�t we ask my grandfather if it�s true? He knows everything!� Bunny didn�t wait for Matt to answer; she hopped away towards her home, and all Matt could do was follow.
As soon as they reached the rabbit hole, Bunny skipped happily inside, and Matt waited impatiently. He wanted to be with Bunny, not worry about some instrument that probably wasn�t real.
The grandfather rabbit emerged from the hole. Bunny hopped right behind, her dark red eyes sparkling.
�It�s not true, right?� Matt asked.
�I�m afraid it is. It�s a legend among rabbits,� the old rabbit said.
�I�ve never heard of it,� said Bunny.
�Well, it�s popular with the old ones. I�m not sure many of your generation know about it,� the grandfather turned to Matt, �I found that instrument when I was trying to run from a fox in my youth. It surrounded by the most beautiful flowers, and it was glowing. I knew it was special. I showed it to my dad, and he told me that it was a magic instrument that could grant any wish, but alas! I was only a rabbit, and I could not play the instrument, so it has stayed in a hidden place.�
�Matt�s a human! He can play it! He can! He can!� Bunny shrieked.
The grandfather disappeared into the rabbit hole and came back carrying a very small piccolo-type instrument. The grandfather than bowed slightly to Matt and disap-peared back into the burrow.
�Play it, Matt! Hold my wish in your heart! Please!� Bunny rubbed against Matt�s leg.
Matt looked the instrument over. It looked to him like an ordinary instrument; he wasn�t sure if it was going to do anything. Still, he didn�t want to disappoint his best friend, so he took a breath and blew into the piccolo-like instrument, thinking about Bunny�s desire to be human. He wasn�t very good with the instrument. In fact, the music that he played sounded like a really bad car crash, but Bunny didn�t seem to care. She had closed her eyes, waiting for her magical transformation.
Matt stopped after awhile, and nothing had happened. The two waited longer, but Bunny was still a little white rabbit.
�I�m sorry, Bunny,� Matt said sadly.
�It�s okay,� replied Bunny, �You tried.�
The next day at school, a new student came to school. She had extremely fair skin, white-blonde hair, dark red eyes, and a cute little nose. The teacher announced to the class that her name was Bunny, and Matt couldn�t believe it.
�It happened overnight,� Bunny told Matt, �Luckily, I was outside looking up at the stars. Otherwise, I wouldn�t be able to get out of my house. Unfortunately, I am not a Hanausa; I can no longer speak with my family, and I threw the instrument into the river since I thought it was useless, so I can�t wish that I was a Hanausa or anything like that.�
Matt patted her on the back, �Don�t worry, Bunny. I will speak to your family for you.�
�Really?� asked Bunny as she smiled.
�Really,� confirmed Matt.