*****
The next morning, Flopsy was woken by the pleasant sounds of chirping birds outside her window. After a quick yawn and stretch, the lop-eared rabbit got out of bed and reached for her brush. She placed it next to herself on the bed… and waited. The bunny watched her door expectantly. Time passed by; however, no mouse was forthcoming. Eventually, she just frowned and began brushing her fur herself. Gumdrop never showed up.
Mother and Father rabbit were in the dining room having breakfast when their daughter slowly walked in there. Lemmy–her little brother– was in his highchair. Flopsy sat at the table and ate with an apparent sad mood. Mother asked, “I noticed Gumdrop didn’t come by today. Is everything all right?”
Flopsy tried to look less bothered. “No, everything is fine. She’s just hanging out with that Rocky Road guy.”
Father jumped in at Rocky’s mentioning. “I heard about that little incident. I’m not surprised Gumdrop would want to know more about him. Most mice don’t adventure like that.”
Flopsy suddenly asked, “Do you think maybe Rocky Road isn’t everything he says he is?”
Mother asked, “What do you mean?”
“I mean maybe he is just making this stuff up so that he can get people to like him. If he is doing that then Gumdrop shouldn’t be hanging out with him.”
Father made the point, “According to the Cottontail Press, Mister Hooty has witnessed some of his deeds. I believe he is being honest about these things.”
Flopsy lowered her head and said, “Well, Mister Hooty could be making it up too.”
Both parents were a little shocked to hear that kind of talk. Father asked, “Is this because Gumdrop didn’t come over to blush your fur?”
“Well, she’s the best at it. I get really bad ‘sleepy fur’ in bed. Gumdrop is the only one who knows how to get rid of it properly.”
He chuckled. “If I recall, it was Gumdrop’s idea to come over like she’s been.”
Mother added, “We just never had a problem with it because Gumdrop is such a dear.”
Flopsy crossed her arms. “Well, I know that. I guess I just need to relax about this.”
There was a knock at the door, and a voice squeaked from outside, “It’s me–Gumdrop!”
Flopsy dashed away from the table to let the mouse in. “Gumdrop, you finally made it!”
The mouse swiftly walked in and was making her way to the rabbit’s room. “Hi, Flopsy! Hi, Flopsy’s parents! I just got to grab something real quick.”
The lop-eared rabbit followed with confusion washed across her face. “Aren’t you going to stay and brush my fur?”
“We’ll have to do it another day. Rocky Road finally woke up, and oh, my gosh, is his fur messed up. I came to get my good brush so I can fix him up.”
Flopsy was shocked. “That’s your brush?!”
The mouse snatched it from the bunny’s dresser. “Of course, it is! I brought it over the first time I came here. Rocky really needs it. He’s had such an amazing life. He gets really tired and sleeps in. His fur is so messed up, he almost looks like a porcupine, and he doesn’t even care! I’ve got to help him, or else, everyone will see it at the next show.”
Flopsy followed Gumdrop right out the door. She asked, “You know, I had really bad ‘sleepy fur’ this morning.”
Gumdrop continued walking at a swift pace. “Yeah, you do get bad ‘sleepy fur’ sometimes, but not as bad as Rocky’s.”
Flopsy added, “One time, I went out to the great forest. Sure Mister Hooty and two badgers came with me, but it was still dangerous.”
Gumdrop replied, “Oh, yeah! I remember that field trip. I was sick that day. But Rocky has been far beyond the great forest. He’s even been to scary places like the Northern Mud Pits and Foxtail Glen. You can’t be a mouse and go to Foxtail Glen without getting into serious trouble, but Rocky did it, and that is just amazing!”
The bunny whimpered lightly. “I could go to the mud pits if I wanted to!”
“Oh, I bet you could, Flopsy. You are very brave. Did you want to come inside and meet Rocky? He’s really nice and a lot more modest when he isn’t speaking to a crowd.”
Flopsy frowned, but soon just released a sigh and said, “Okay… sure.”
Inside Gumdrop’s house, Flopsy was greeted by the mouse’s parents. They did not seem like they were upset by the visitor. She followed her friend into the guest room where Rocky was rummaging through his backpack. He did indeed have ruffled fur.
Gumdrop held up the brush. “I told you I’d get one! Now, sit down; this will only take a little while.”
Rocky smiled and chuckled. “You are never going to let me leave until you do this, are you?”
Gumdrop shook her head defiantly. “Absolutely not. I can’t have the bravest mouse in the world going out in public with messed up fur!”
Rocky nodded and sat down. Gumdrop began brushing out his fur the best that she could. Flopsy–on the other hand–just stood there and waved. The adventurer mouse waved back and asked, “Didn’t I see you in the crowd yesterday?”
Flopsy answered, “Yes, sir. I’m Gumdrop’s friend.”
He smiled knowingly. “I gathered that from the many pictures in her room.”
The bunny sighed and began backing away. Gumdrop was too focused on brushing out all the knots in Rocky’s fur to join in on the conversation. Flopsy said, “Well, it was nice meeting you.”
The adventurer replied, “The pleasure is mine, Flopsy.”
Flopsy slowly walked out of the guest room and took a peek into Gumdrop’s. She gasped when she saw that some of her pictures had been replaced by Rocky Road’s face. The sight made her miserable, and she dragged her feet out of the house with a very big frown.