Cara Cotten

Moss Dormouse's To-do List: Blueberry Picking

(PART ONE)

"Hmm.. what do we have on the list today?" Moss wondered out loud as they trailed their paw down the to-do list paper. "Ha! First, we pick blueberries with Snow!" They stuffed the list in their pocket and quickly scurried through town to the White Rabbit Shop.

"Good day, Mr. White!" Moss greeted as he tipped his hat towards the older fellow. 

"Good day to you too, Moss!" Mr. White Rabbit replied. "Don't get up to too much mischief!" He added with a wink.

Moss grinned. "We can't promise that we won't!" They ran to the back of the shop where Snow was fixing a clock. "Ready for blueberry picking?"

"Just wait a few minutes, please." Snow said while her paw mindlessly searched for the screwdriver.

"Right here," Moss picked it up and gave it to her.

Snow looked up and nodded at them. "Thanks," then continued working.

Moss impatiently tapped their foot on the ground. A few minutes passed. "Are you done yet?" They demanded.

"Now, I am!" Snow stood up and took off the glasses she was wearing, then grabbed her basket and walked out the door with Moss. "Where to?"

"The usual place," they answered.

"Oh! Of course!" Snow smiled, embarrassed by the answer's obviousness. "Silly me!"

Moss and Snow then began walking through town and through the forest, then to their usual place. The "usual place" was an open field in the middle of the forest. It was quite near to the Mallymkun's home and a little farther away from Abby and Cotton's tea spot. Blueberry bushes grew, like a ring, around a statue in the middle of a field. The statue looked like Snow's mother. A metal nameplate was at the foot of the statue. It said:

In memory of our town's beloved Angel Rabbit, wife to Mr. White Rabbit and mother to Snow Rabbit. She loved both of them most dearly. May she rest in peace wherever her spirit may be lingering.

Snow sniffed.

Moss glanced over at her. "A-are you ok, Snow?"

Snow smiled. "It's alright. I'm just remembering all the happy memories my mum and I had together."

"She must have been very kind," Moss said, thoughtfully.

"She was..." Snow paused as she wiped her tears away with a soft handkerchief. "Anyways, let's hurry and pick the blueberries. I need to get back to help my father with the shop right after."

"A'ight," Moss nodded, not knowing what to make up of the situation. It was too emotional for them to handle.

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(Author's note for edit: I forgot that Moss called themself by we/our/us so I made edits for that. No, they're not royalty. They just prefer to call themselves by we/our/us but others call them by they/them/their pronouns.)