A Bundle of Grace

After 3 weeks of house parties and playdates, Heidi felt a sense of giddiness. All the Hopscotch Rabbits did, for this week would be the week Grace’s 1 year exchange program would be finished and Grace could return home. Grace was Bell’s, Bellia’s, Skip’s and Stella’s younger 3 year old sister. Grace was 2 years older than twins, Honey and Hopper though. She had the same “chocolate dipped” ears like Bellia and her cousins, uncle and aunt. Grace had left with Bellia on the student Sylvania/Cloverleaf Corners exchange program. Bellia had spent 2 years attending that program, but since Grace was only 2 years old when she left home, the school teachers decided it would be best that the younger kids only took 1 year. The memory of that call was still fondly in Heidi’s mind. Her getting a call from the Fluffy Hamster mother, Hilda, who ran the Rainbow Nursery. She could still remember Hilda’s calm and pleasant voice telling her that Grace had exceeded all requirements to be able to attend the program.

Grace was a very independent critter at a young age. Heidi remembered her daughter wanting to do everything by herself. Grace wanted nothing more than to be a big girl just like her older sisters, Stella, Bell and Bellia who all seemed so perfect and independent in Grace's eyes. Heidi remembered the only way to get Grace to do anything was saying, “Grace, a big girl…”

Everytime that was said, Grace’s eyes would light up and immediately listen. Most of the times when Grace wanted to do something by herself such as filling the tub with bubbles for her younger twin siblings, Grace would need help in the end. For example, once Grace decided to climb in the tub which was full of bubbles and pull out the plug, so all the bubbles would go down the drain. Unfortunately, it did not go according to plan. Once all the bubbles were drained a very wet Grace realized that she wasn’t tall enough to get out. Luckily, Belllia was there just in time and pulled her baby sister out.

The day had finally come, Grace would be home today. Harlin happily went down for breakfast. Heidi prepared some salt and pepper biscuits with some leftover carrot soup. Heidi handed Harlin some chocolates and macaroons with a warm bottle. Heidi wanted Grace to have a nice snack on the road home. “Ta-ta,” Harlin said, cheerfully.

Heidi blows him a kiss and shuts the door. She immediately starts scrubbing the floorboards and dusting the windows. Bellia wakes up to the sound of her mother’s upbeat humming. Bellia slept at the car’s removable mattress/seat. She rubbed her eyes and saw her mother cleaning away. Heidi never cleaned so rigorously before. “Good morning, mom. Excited about Grace coming home?” asked Bellia.

“Yes, yes I am. I can’t wait to see her! I want the house to be spic and span when she arrives,” Heidi answered while scrubbing an already spotless window, “You can go have some donuts from breakfast.

Bellia grinned; donuts were never allowed to be for breakfast. Only on special occasions, they were allowed to eat sweets first thing in the morning. Bellia hurried to the dining table and gobbled down the tasty donuts.

Soon, everyone was awake. Bell and Bellia helped scrub floorboards. Skip cleaned the bathtub and David and Karen took care of the babies. (Which was the best chore of all, if you could count that as a chore)

When Harlin came back there was an adorable bundle of grace. Grace smiled at her family members and rushed to hug each and every one of them. “Skip! I miss you a lot!” Grace giggled.

Everyone smiled at Grace’s presence, she was certainly missed. “My, you have grown,” commented Heidi.

Grace just smiled and laughed. Bellia gave her a quick tour of the house while Harlin went back to work at the Toy Shop. “Who are they?” Grace inquired, pointing at the Chiffon Dog siblings and Henry.

Bellia answered, “They’re our tenants. That’s Karen Doughty Chiffon Dog and her older brother, David. This little one is Henry Periwinkle Milk Rabbit. He sleeps in the light blue bunk bed below yours.”

Greetings were exchanged and the tour continued. “I get an entire bunk to myself?!” exclaimed Grace, looking at the pink bunk bed.

“Yup!” smiled Bellia, “It’s all yours. Sorry, I know the bed hasn’t been made yet.”

Grace squealed and immediately scurried up the ladder. When they reached the third floor Grace recognized the change. “Wasn’t mommy and daddy’s bed over there?” pointed out Grace.

Bellia said, “Yes, it was. Remember your cousin, Freya, she came up with this new design. Much more spacious, isn’t it?”

Instead of answering Grace hopped onto her parents’ bed and started hopping just like a normal rabbit. “Grace, get down NOW!” Bellia commanded.

Grace kept hopping and even invited her sister to join her. “PLEASE!” Grace asked, with big cute eyes.

Bellia sighed, “Alright, one jump.”

One jump, turned to two, which became 5 or so.

Grace thought of a funny thought and yelled, “Hey! Bellia, big girls do not jump on their parents’ bed!”

Bellia and her little sister laughed so hard, they both fell off the bed. Bell noticed all the noise and came up. “What are you doing?! That’s mom and dad’s bed! Bellia, you’re setting a bad example!” Bell cried.

Grace remarked, “Yeah, Bellia. You’re supposed to be a big girl!”

Bellia said, “She told me to join her! She did the cute eyes!”

“You aren’t supposed to listen, even if she does the cute eyes!” Bell instructed.

Grace did her big cute eyes and told Bell, “Can you get me a glass of water? Please!”

Bell sighed, “Alright, Grace. I’m gonna do it.”

“See!” shot back Bell’s twin, “The cute eyes are irresistible!”

The twins turned to look at their little sister. How does she think of such things? She’s only 3! the twins pondered.

Time passes with Grace meetings all the new neighbors and babies. She had a long playdate at the Tuxedo’s home and met Ginni and Olive. When Teri, Freya and Breeze came Grace happily conversed with her cousin, Breeze. Both discovered they had much in common, being independent and smart.

By the time Harlin came home, Grace had stated several times she wanted to watch some TV with her father. After the fun first day of Grace’s homecoming, everyone knew that the presence of this little bundle of grace would be loved and enjoyed.