Written by: Edison Blanco Reyes Laura Melisa Triana Rojas Stephanie JimĂŠnez Casas Illustrated by: Different artists from storybird.com
Adrian was a 20 year-old-boy, a pretty normal guy with a really boring routine. He went to the university, studied and went back home. He didn’t have friends and lived with his mom in a big and old-fashioned house.
One day, when he was in his way home, he saw a cute rabbit in a Pet Store's window. The little creature was brown, black and yellow spotted. Adrian thought it was extremely strange and he decided to buy the bunny because he believed this rabbit was unique and hard to find, like a precious gem. No one else could have one. He named it Mao. Adrian took care of the rabbit, fed it and prepared a special place for him to stay.
A year later, Mao was exploring the house, as he always did. He knew every single corner of the house and it was kind of boring for him to do the same thing every day. After a while he went to the backyard and wonder what would be behind the fence; he started digging‌
An hour later he was out of the backyard and, surprisingly he found a new world, an unknown place for him. There were cars, many people walking on the streets, other houses and pollution. He was scared and ran away toward the forest.
Going deep into the woods he felt lost and started crying.
A fairy, which only appeared to sad creatures, went to talk to Mao; he was surprised to see the fairy but he told her what his problems were. He wanted to go back home, as it was the place he was familiarized with. The fairy said he could go back home but before returning she wanted to show him the real life he should have had.
So, they started walking right to the White Rabbit's hole and when they were near his home, they saw the little white rabbit wearing a waistcoat and walking hurried. The fairy waved at him but he did not look at them, he was just muttering “"Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!� Then he entered down to the hole and disappeared.
Suddenly, an old-rabbit emerged from the rabbit’s hole. - Oh my dear Fairy, it is nice to see you again - said the old animal - how is your work going? -Pretty good Johnny- said the Fairy with an enchanted accent, I want to introduce you this little Bunny, his name is Mao, and he was lost in the forest. - Oh, it is a pleasure little Mao, I am Mr. John. You look foreigner. Where are you from?
Mao was really surprised that he forgot he was there. The old-Rabbit repeated the question again and Mao woke up.
I am from, eh, eh, The Barking Zoo - answered little Mao with a really shrill voice. - The Barking zoo? - said Mr. John. - Yes, it is a pet store far from here but then Adrian took me with him to a new place - Mao started sniveling - but now I do not know if I can see him again.
The fairy comforted Mao and then she explained the reason of her unexpected meeting. The Old-Rabbit raised his loooong ears and listened to the fairy. - Oh dear friends it will be a pleasure to show you my home, Shall I take you to the Colony?
So, the three of them were walking through the forest but suddenly Mr. John stopped. He raised his ears in silence and then he muttered: “a Red Fox is coming. Quick, get inside here!” They entered into a large and murky cave. The Red Fox crossed without notice our little friend’s presence. They waited a bit and then returned their way to the Colony.
The colony was the most beautiful place that Mao had seen in his entire life. Everything was like a rabbit's hotel beginning with the amazing lobby where a mole was receiving the visitors. Inside the luxurious hole thousands of rabbits were happy, laughing and enjoying their time together. Although some of them were working at the vegetable hold, the partnership made things better.
Suddenly, Mao felt something that he never had felt before. A beautiful bunny called Rosalinda was introduced to him by The Old Rabbit; she was the oldest of his daughters and was in charge of the colony. As soon as Mao saw her, he fell in love with her.
After spending the whole evening there, the fairy said: -Well Mao, now that you know the things that nature has to offer, what do you want to do? -What do you mean fairy? – Said Mao. -You have to choose between going back to your home with Adrian or staying here with the ones that are like you. You have to know that once you make your decision there is no turning back and no regrets.
Mao was surprised. He had forgotten the reasons why he was there in the first place. Although this was the place where he had to be, he could only think about Adrian's sadness. He felt really worried but, against his desires he chose to give up and came back with Adrian.
With a clap of her hands, the fairy took Mao to his house and after saying goodbye she disappeared. Everything seemed to be just a dream. After some weeks in his house, Mao was sorry and even worse than he used to be. He was sad because his decision was not the correct one, because the exact day of his adventure‌
Adrian returned at home with a woman, the woman he loved, and he forgot Mao.
In his solitude Mao wanted to be again at the colony.
He did exactly the same things that lead him to his adventure in the beginning, but nothing happened. No fairy, no rabbits around, just the empty space in the forest. He cried again, remembering the fairy's warning: "You have to know that once you make your decision there is no turning back and no regrets".
After roaming for a while in the forest, he was completely lost and in an instant, the red fox that lived in the place, in one bit, took his life away.
In that exact moment, Adrian, worried about his bunny's loneliness, found near his house a beautiful bunny, perfect for Mao, and he called her Rosalinda...
THERE ARE THINGS THAT JUST HAPPEN ONCE IN OUR LIVES‌