Publisher's Synopsis
My morning begins in chaos, as has become the norm in recent weeks. I awake to the sounds of a scuffle coming from the living room-a blur of fur and paws and guttural growling. Sighing, I quickly shuffle out of bed to break up yet another fight between my two rabbits before confrontation escalates into bloodshed.
"Strawberry, stop!" I cry in my most authoritative voice, rushing to detach the brown devil bunny from her latest victim-our new rabbit Blueberry. Strawberry has staked quite the territorial claim on our little family ever since we first adopted her three years ago. Bringing a new rabbit into her domain was always going to cause drama, but I guess I underestimated just how vicious her jealous rage could become. Poor Blueberry has barely had a moment to adjust to his new home over the past week without being harassed or attacked. My vision of two adorable snuggly bunnies bonding and providing companionship for each other could not be further from the reality created by Hurricane Strawberry. As I gently soothe a traumatized Blueberry and secure rampaging Strawberry back in her pen, I hear my sister Anna shuffling out to observe the latest wreckage. She arches one sardonic eyebrow at me in a knowing look."Quite the cheerful war you've got going on out here every morning," she comments wryly, nudging shredded newspaper with her foot. I sigh, scrubbing a hand down my face. "I just don't know what to do anymore. I've tried every trick to get Strawberry to accept Blueberry, but no luck. She seems determined to torment the poor guy no matter what." My sister has recently been staying in our guest room ever since breaking up with her boyfriend a few weeks back. So she's had front row seats to the Battle Royale unfolding daily between my rabbits. Given Anna's rather domineering personality though, I can tell she's been itching to intervene with the bunny feud. I'm almost surprised she's held back this long. But judging from the contemplative glint in her eyes right now, I suspect her restraint won't last much longer. Sure enough, later that day while I prepare dinner Anna corners me, arms crossed and a determined gleam in her gaze. "Okay, that's it. I have a plan." She holds up a hand before I can protest. "Hear me out. I think we need to get Strawberry out of her comfort zone so she stops feeling so territorial. Bring both buns to my apartment for a week as a change of scenery and neutral territory. Somewhere unfamiliar might allow bonding to start fresh." I blink uncertainly. A weeklong bunny sleepover does sound drastic. Then again, we've nearly reached the end of our rope with Strawberry's violent bullying. If Anna's scheme stands any chance of helping her accept Blueberry at last, perhaps such an extreme measure could provide the paradigm shift desperately needed in their relationship. I know my sister can be a steamroller when she sets her mind on something. But she also has a knack for understanding motivations and how to manipulate environments to change behaviors. "Alright," I finally relent with a weary exhale. "But fair warning, I can't promise Strawberry will react any better to unfamiliar settings than here. You may just be inviting chaos into your neat little life." Anna waves away my warning with a confident smile. "Leave it to me, sis." And so two days later, the Great Bunny Sleepover Experiment begins...