The episode opening transition circle opened up to reveal the playground to show everybunny, Max, Ruby, and all their friends, playing. Morris, Lily, Max, and Priya were all going down the slides while Ruby, Louise, Valerie, and Antonio were all swinging together, laughing as they had a contest of who could swing the highest. Mr. and Mrs. Bunny were watching Grace and Oliver, who were napping in the double jogger stroller. Roger walked past them in a black and white striped referee's uniform with a whistle around his neck.
"Hey, Mr. and Mrs. B," said Roger.
"Hey, Roger," said Mr. Bunny. "What's with the referees outfit?"
"I'm refereeing the game. We're holding the big Freeze Tag tournament, and I'm the referee."
"Awesome!" reacted Mr. Bunny.
"Well, good luck," said Mrs. Bunny, "And make sure they play a nice clean game on the playground."
"I will, Mrs. B," said Roger. He proceeded towards all the neighborhood bunnies playing on the playground. In the center of everyone playing, he blew his whistle, which startled a couple of them.
"Alright everyone," said Roger with everyone's attention. "Are you all ready for the first annual East Bunnyhop Freeze Tag Tournament?"
"Yeah!" everyone shouted.
Max and his friends came down from the playground as the older girls and Antonio jumped off their swings and landed on their feet.
"First, let's take a moment to thank Roger for being our referee for this tournament," said Louise. Everyone applauded as Roger took a bow in his referee uniform. "Now let's choose who's 'it!'"
"One potato, two potato?" suggested Valerie.
"Nah, it's way too big of a group," said Louise. "We need something more robust!"
"How about... Down by the Banks?" suggested Ruby.
"Yeah, perfect!" replied Louise. "Everybunny in?" Max and his friends all looked at each other.
"We don't know how that goes!" said Max.
"It's easy!" said Louise. "How about you let the big kids chant the words?"
"Everybunny gather in a circle!" said Ruby.
They all gathered in a big circle to choose who was "it," while Roger stood to the side with his paws in his pockets. The rest of the gang all joined paws and started chanting and taking turns sequentially slapping the paw next to them to the rhythm of the chant.
"Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky where the bull frogs leap from bank to banky, with a hip, hop, flippity flop, missed the banky and went kerplop!" The second syllable of "kerplop" landed on Valerie.
"I'm glad I'm not it!" said Valerie, who then backed away and watched the remaining players keep getting eliminated. As the team further eliminated players, more of them stepped out of the circle, until it was down to only two players: Max and Ruby.
"It's you or Max, Ruby!" Louise belted. Max and Ruby put their fists close to each other as Roger made the final call and everyone chanted.
"Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky where the bull frogs leap from bank to banky, with a hip, hop, flippity flop, missed the banky and went kerplop!" The second syllable of "kerplop" landed on Max.
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Ruby's Broken Bone
Short StoryRuby breaks her leg during the big Freeze Tag tournament, which puts her in a cast and on crutches for a few weeks. Max becomes jealous that his sister is all of a sudden getting a whole lot of attention and help because of her injury. This is an ex...
