The Gift (A Fable) ONCE UPON A TIME, there was a small planet past the solar system called the Lost Planet. The inhabitants or beings of this planet were, for lack of a better description, what we would identify as rabbits.

THE TRAGEDY of the Lost Planet is that out of selfishness, greed and gluttony, the Rabbits had created a pace of life that was nearly unlivable. They hopped constantly without slowing down or stopping, consuming food and pleasures ever so furiously to fill the meaningless emptiness inside of themselves.

ONE DAY, the Rabbits on the Lost Planet began to receive a gift. Little bunnies began to be born who were very slow, couldn't chase after pleasures, and could not hop. They also required an unusual amount of tenderness, time and attention. And they grew very very slowly - almost imperceptably.

BUT much to the chagrin of the Gift-Giver, this made the Rabbits on the planet frantic. "What do we do with these new bunnies who can't go fast, can't consume at the same rate we do and worst of all can't hop!" they cried. "Why, they don't deserve to be called Rabbits! They'll slow us down!"

THEN a crafty old Rabbit who had long experience as a prison warden and executioner at the Island for Rabbit Society Misfits said, "I know what we can do. Let's round up all the new slow bunnies and get them out of Rabbit Society so they won't slow us down or inconvenience us. I will conduct experiments that willl prove that these new bunnies are violent and a danger to Rabbit Society. Then the parent Rabbits will have no choice but to hand them over to us. After this, we can segregate and imprison the slow bunnies and make lots of money doing it. But we better get the little Bunnies early before their parent Rabbits realize their true nature.

ONE SKEPTICAL Rabbit who was also a long time guard on Misfit Island raised his paw and asked, "But what if the mother Rabbit objects to our treatment of her baby bunny?"

"THAT"S EASY", replied the crafty old Rabbit. We will then accuse the little bunny of WILLFULLY not hopping, WILLFULLY not going fast enough, and WILLFULLY not eating enough. Then the mother Rabbit will be declared unfit herself and accused of creating a criminal rabbit. Then we can sentence both to Misfit Island!

SO the slow little Bunnies who had been given as a gift of love to help slow down the sick Rabbit Society were rounded up and forced to go at a speed that made them sick. They were made to walk on hot coals to teach them how to hop.

THE LITTLE BUNNIES developed scars on their feet and made pathetic, crooked hopping motions, but still could not get off the ground despite their constant terrified efforts. They developed scars on their knees from falling when they were made to walk too fast. Many vomited frequently from being forced fed the required Rabbit Society food menu. The little bunnies would finally lash out and begin to compulsively bite like dogs.

"SEE!" said the craftly old Rabbit. "These bunnies are dangerous and we must keep them under constant lock and key with highly trained guards beside them. They are unfit for Rabbit Society!"

AND SO the Gift was rejected by Rabbit Society and not one Rabbit slowed down and asked himself if hopping off the ground or the pace of Rabbit Society was really necessary for all or any Rabbit. Not one Rabbit on the Lost Planet stopped to ask himself why these bunnies were given by the Gift-Giver.

THE GIFT-GIVER wept bitterly.

AND THEN the crafty old Rabbit helped the Lost Planet construct a god that embodied the values of Rabbit Society.

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