Bear Illusions

Bonus Story: Closet Rabbit

Hi guys, this is a little bonus chapter. At some point in life traditions are broken, this is the story behind how the April Fools Day tradition was broken. Enjoy! xD

*************************************************************************************************

PAGE 1:

Dear Gabriella,

I'm momentarily in Townsville, but by the time you get this letter I'll already be in Rockhampton. My journey around Australia has been interesting; a lot has change since I last came here, but then again the whole worlds changing. I know that letters are almost no-existent these days, heck they were almost extinct when I was your age. But its tradition and I'm already breaking one in this letter, two would be over doing it, your great grandpa's probably already turning in his grave. I know I haven't always been a constant in your life, but at least the times I was there we made the most of it my dear girl. Do you remember how I took you rabbit hunting once and your mother almost had a heart attack? I do, you couldn't even hit tree let alone a moving target. It was rather comical, until the rabbit came at us and I involuntarily climbed up the nearest tree, must have looked extremely odd, an old man clutching onto a large branch for dear life. You thought I was just trying to be funny back then to make you feel better for not being a good shot, but the truth is I really was afraid. In this letter I will explain why, and I will break hundreds of years of tradition. So I hope you enjoy this little story from my youth.

Love Grandpa

PAGE 2:

It was the 31st of March, my birthday; Grandpa Jefferson had travelled from the other side of Australia to celebrate my 17th year in this 'damned senseless world' as he put it. I had only seen Grandpa Jefferson twice before, neither of those times was to see me. So my lack of excitement was justified, I didn't know him. We picked Grandpa up from the airport the previous morning and I didn't see him the rest of that day. But I was willing to give him a chance to redeem all the neglect, until the morning of the 31st came. If you have ever woken up with an icy cold bucket of water poured over your head, several alarms blasting in your ears and some heffa jumping on your stomach, then you'd understand why his name officially met the pages of my hate list.

We spent the day like rabbits, hopping from one place to the next; Grandpa Jefferson wanted to visit all the places that had once been a part of his daily life as a youth. It didn't feel like my day, it was his. When we finally arrived home the relief I felt was unparalleled. All I wanted was to go to bed and be done with the dreadful day, but grandpa wouldn't even let me do that in peace. On hearing the creak as he came up the timber staircase I drove for my abnormally large wardrobe and hid behind a cluster of hanging clothes. It had always been a habit of mine, to hide when I didn't want to face something or someone. Unfortunately for me he seemed to have known I would do that and didn't waste any time moving the clothes aside to reintroduce my face to the world. Grandpa leaned down and slipped an envelope into my hand. 'Don't open it until after I've left and when you do make sure you're alone, okay?' I exhaled loudly, confused and tired, but I managed to nod and got up to place the envelope into my bedside drawer.

The following day I said farewell to Grandpa Jefferson before my parents drove him to the airport. I waited till the car turned the bend before rushing to my bedroom drawer to reveal the unopened envelope. I had thought about opening it against Grandpa's instructions, but I speculated that he must have had good reason behind his command to wait, so the envelope had remained sealed until that moment. Inside I found a birthday card, but as I read the content I realised that it was so much more than a mere card.

Dear Connor,

As a birthday present I am going to let you in on a family secret, something that will change your perspective of the world. It was disclosed to me by my grandmother on this very same day forty-eight years ago in the year 2016. She told me that 'our family was special because we possessed a unique disorder that tampers with our brains'. I was so excited, wishing and hoping for it to be true, I regretted that wish for many years. Grandma said she was told by her grandfather 'to be very careful' in regards to the fantasies she fabricated, what she wished for, because on the first of April those thoughts and wishes could come true' due to the family disorder which 'causes our brains to see unwanted illusions'. Our first illusion comes in different forms, each suited to each individual's personalities, my own was a bear. This letter is a warning lad, be careful, today especially.

Don't wet yourself,

Love Grandpa Jefferson

For some reason the house seemed too quiet after reading grandpa's words, it was overcast outside and there was no other soul in the house. I gulped as sounds that I wouldn't normally notice started to become prominent: the clock ticking, the frogs crocking and the generator humming outside my window. Then I heard it, a sound completely out of place; a loud thud from above my head which caused the fan to swing. After a minute of silence I heard it again, this time accompanied by several thuds from down stairs. I scrambled to my wardrobe to hide, the sounds only getting louder and closer each passing second. Thoughts were flying through my mind, trying to make sense of it all, 'Grandpa's story can't be true, it's not possible' the confident statement was rendered useless by the unwanted thought, but what if it is?

The thuds by now had become an assortment of sounds: nails scratching chalkboard, animal-like grunts and high-pitch squeals. What animal even makes those noises? My mind drifted back to Grandpa's words 'suited to each individual's personalities' what does that mean for me? I'm small, weak, a vegetarian and I hide when faced with danger.

My wardrobe door opened a crack and I shut my eyes in fear, reopening them to find myself in darkness once again and with company. A stark pair of red eyes bore into me from the entrance. I scrambled further into the clothing, my breaths becoming shorter as I began to fall into a panic attack. The eyes suddenly rushed forward, the giant silhouette of the creature becoming clearer as it flung itself at me. A huge mass of fur hit my body knocking me over, with deep chested growls. I screamed, not caring if it wasn't manly, I had a damned monster clawing at my legs, dragging me back to the wardrobe entrance. I kicked out at the creature, terror coursing through my body as I fought to break free. But it was no use; the grip that held me was like iron.

The door behind me swung open, revealing a long-eared shadow and bared fangs. I turned my body around only to come face to face with I giant rabbit, foaming at the mouth, eyes blood shot and fur tangled and grimy. I froze. Is this really it? I thought. Is this how my short life ends? In that final frightful moment, all my confusion found clarity as an all too familiar voice growled 'April Fools Day.'

THE END:

*****************************************************************************************

Hope you Enjoyed! Comment and Vote! Please!