This pandemic affects everyone differently, I assume.
If you were to wander into Jim Hagarty’s backyard around midnight any night, you might catch him talking to rabbits. Rabbits have been living on his property for many years now, but Hagarty never really started striking up conversations with them till this summer, while he was on lockdown., although the bunnies seemed free to roam wherever they wanted to, unlike Hagarty.
When the rabbits talk, they seem more intelligent than Hagarty might have thought they would be. They have a distinctive accent which is hard to identify, but Hagarty has heard one of them ask him, “What’s up Doc?” which makes him think the accent seems similar to someone from Brooklyn.
Al Bossence Photo
Last night, a small bunny headed across the yard straight for Hagarty’s right leg, making him wonder if he would stop at all and leading him to question if the bunny was rabid. However, the rabbit stopped and looked right up at Hagarty in much the same way Hagarty’s little dog looks at him when his food bowl is empty. Bunny and Hagarty both looked over at the rabbit feeding station and both realized it was empty.
So Hagarty went to the garage and got some feed and sprinkled it into the feeder while the bunny stood back and watched. As soon as Hagarty moved a few feet away, the bunny moved in for his midnight snack.
“Well, have a good night,” Hagarty said to Bunny who did not reply but kept munching away. Bunny sometimes gives Hagarty the silent treatment which hurts the human’s feelings. Tonight, when they meet, Bunny and Hagarty will probably have a good laugh about it all.
The pandemic is having very little effect on Hagarty and, it seems, none on the bunnies.
©2021 Jim Hagarty
