Act 1

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The night sky was twinkling full of stars as one bright Star in the middle was watching down on Earth. He was The Rabbit Upstairs.

"All the peaceful bunny children," He said to Himself. "Oh... except for one..." He took a closer look and smiled when He saw who it was.

"Ahh... little Ruby. Such a sweetheart. Oh, but I can sense she's going to be in trouble tonight. Hey, Son?"

"Here, Dad" said another star that shifted next to The Big One. "What seems to be the problem?"

"It's a little girl down in East Bunnyhop," said The Big Star. "Her name is Ruby."

"Oh, I remember Ruby," the smaller star said. "She isn't bad at all, Dad. She's one of the sweetest bunnies on Earth."

"Exactly," said The Big Star. "Which is why she is going to need help tonight. I must send down her guardian angel. You remember Emerald, don't you, son?"

"Oh yes," said the smaller star. "She's still one of the angels in training. You assigned her to Ruby as an easy beginner's subject to watch over. She hasn't even earned her wings yet, has she?"

"No she has not," said The Big Star. "I am going to give her that big opportunity tonight. Oh, Emerald!"

Suddenly, a third star appeared alongside the other two. This star was panting.

"I came here as fast as I could," said the third star. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes," said The Big Star. "You know the bunny I assigned to you, Ruby, right?"

"Oh yes," said the star. "I can't thank you enough for giving me an easy subject to do my training on. She is the sweetest, kindest, most loving and caring bunny I have had so far!"

"I'm glad you're enjoying having her as your subject," said The Big Star. "I brought you here to tell you- Ruby is going to do something tonight she typically wouldn't do."

"What's that?" asked the star. "Is she going to lay in bed? Skip dinner? What?"

"She is going to wish her life would be completely different."

"Different?" said the little star. "Different in what way?"

"That is for you to find out as we watch," said the big star. "We will watch your subject later, but for right now, I want you to go down to Earth and check on her. Don't interact with her, other than maybe just give some subtle reminder that you are watching her."

"Yay!" cheered the little star. "I get to go down to Earth again! I haven't done that since 1904!"

"As soon as you spot her and report back to me, we will then watch Ruby's situation and I will tell you what you can do to help."

"Oh, I am so excited!" said the little star.

It was Christmas Eve in East Bunnyhop. Rabbits everywhere were doing their last minute Christmas shopping. Snow blanketed the streets of the center of town as cars drove gingerly over the sludge and the heritage trolley screeched along the tracks. Christmas lights dawned over the streets while the toys all put on their performances in the display windows of shops up and down E. Bunnyhop Main Street. The children stared in awe at the toys pointing their fingers to specific presents they wanted.

One bunny in particular, a short and stubby five-year-old rabbit with white fur and sporting a big green coat with a scarf and mittens, could not take his eyes off of a model train set with locomotives traversing their routes throughout the displays. Wherever the trains went, the little bunny followed, struggling and shoving his way through the huge crowds of other little rabbit children. Not wanting to lose sight of the train, he tripped and fell, but quickly got up to watch it travel over a little model level crossing.

It's a Brotherful Life! A Max & Ruby Christmas SpecialWhere stories live. Discover now