The Clay Rabbit's Lost Ear Illustrator Zhao Xigang
Author JinBo
CCPPG
The Mid-Autumn Festival was coming. There were stalls selling clay rabbits everywhere, on each and every street and on the temple fair. When Grandma took me to the temple fair, I begged and begged for a clay rabbit.
I looked through all the stalls trying to find the exact clay rabbit that I would most want. But there were so many I couldn't choose. Grandma tried to drag me away, but I wouldn't leave. I'd found the one I wanted. It was very, very big-even taller than me. But Grandma didn't have enough money to pay for that one, so she bought me a tiny little clay rabbit only as long as my hand. I liked that little rabbit too. We could look straight at each other--face to face.
One day, I decided to put my clay rabbit on the shelf so that everyone could see him. But I dropped him. Oh no! I quickly picked him up. His body was fine but one of his ears had broken off. I knelt on the floor, and looked for the ear everywhere, but I couldn't find it. Grandma came to help me. She looked and looked until she got dizzy and had to lie down.
My clay rabbit had one ear missing so I had to put it in a drawer. Grandma was sick and I took care of her every day. I didn't dare to ask her for money to buy another clay rabbit. But as soon as she fell asleep, I'd search everywhere for my clay rabbit's missing ear.
The moon was growing rounder and brighter. One night I looked up at it and saw the Jade Rabbit living in the palace of the moon who is the king of all rabbit fairies with a magic healing power. Ah! There he was pounding herbs for a potion. I quietly said, "Jade Rabbit, Jade Rabbit, can you make the moon a little brighter? I lost my clay rabbit's ear."
As soon as I said it, the moon grew larger, rounder and brighter. It shone on the earth and lit up my house. Now I could look for the missing ear. But even though I searched for a long time and I still couldn't see it anywhere. I whispered softly, "Jade Rabbit, Jade Rabbit, can you come to my house? Please help me find my clay rabbit's ear."
Jade Rabbit, Jade Rabbit, come to my house quickly!
As soon as I'd said the words I saw Jade Rabbit walk out of the moon palace. I saw the clouds form a ladder that was lit on both sides by shining stars. The moonlight shone on my bed and on Grandma's. In its bright light, I could hear steps coming closer and see a swaying shadow on the wall.
Jade Rabbit, you are coming to me.
Then many rabbit fairies appeared. Some were riding on elephants, others on tigers; some on deer, others on lions; and a few even on qilin‌
They looked up at the sky as though they were waiting for someone. But I said, "Please help me find my clay rabbit's ear!" They jumped off their steeds and began to search every nook and every cranny in the whole room. They even woke Grandma up and she groaned. Hugging her I looked out the window at the moon. I pointed up at it and said, "Look, Jade Rabbit is coming down from the palace tonight!" Grandma rubbed her eyes. "I cannot see it. I am too tired. "She said. Then she lay back down.
When Jade Rabbit walked into my room, all the rabbit fairies gathered around him, talking and laughing. He saw Grandma lying in the bed. Immediately knowing that she was sick, he began to make a potion for her. Grandma took it and right away I could see her begin to get better.
On the morning of Mid-Autumn Festival, Grandma began to prepare everything for the full moon. She decorated the altar with moon cakes, lotus roots, water chestnuts, watermelon, pomegranates, and soybeans. I brought out my little clay rabbit again. He could not go on the altar because of his broken ear. Once again I searched the whole room for his ear.
Grandma asked, "What are you doing?" "I'm looking for my clay rabbit's ear." "What ear?" "My clay rabbit's ear!" Grandma suddenly said, "What a terrible memory I have. I picked it up for you long ago!" Grandma took a little bag from her jewelry box. And there, in the bag, was the clay rabbit's ear. Now my little clay rabbit had his ear again. I put him on the alter, and he smiled at me.
That night the whole yard was flooded with moonlight. The moon in the sky was big and round. The yard filled up with my family and friends. Somehow I felt that Jade Rabbit and the rabbit fairies riding their beasts were there, too.
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!