Hide & Seek - Alyssa Brugman [58]
Shelby's own parents let her make mistakes. They trusted her to make decisions. They respected her. Shelby didn't have to pretend to be a different person when she was around them, like Maddy did. Shelby wasn't their puppet, or their slave.
She stirred again. The sun slanted across the yard, making long shadows, and glinting on the leaves. It wasn't going to rain after all.
It seemed so obvious to her now in this moment. She didn't need lists to know her destiny. The choice was simple, given who she was and what she believed in – given how she had been brought up.
The bunny must have heard something. It sat up on its hind legs, nose twitching. She could see the fur on its belly and imagine, if she stroked it, how soft and warm it would be. Before long another one lolloped into view. The two rabbits regarded each other with a seriousness out of keeping with their cute appearance.
Soon she would tell her father about the rabbits. Shelby smiled thinking about her dad in his pyjama shorts in the backyard, waving his arms and shouting at the bunnies – an effective but short-term solution.
First she would show her little brothers. Connor and Blake probably hadn't seen a real bunny up close before. Shelby climbed out of bed and tiptoed down the hallway.
Back in her room, Connor was still rubbing his eyes and complaining. Shelby shushed him. Blake's hair stood on end; his face was puffy with sleep. He peeked out the window.
'Awesome!' he whispered.
There were three now. One was only small, with its back to them, as if showing off its cotton ball tail. They nibbled and crept across the lawn, moving one at a time, and always watchful, like pioneers taking new territory.
She smiled. It seemed to Shelby that a cautious boldness was the secret to success.
About the Author
Other books by Alyssa Brugman about Shelby and her friends include For Sale or Swap, Beginner's Luck and Hot Potato.
Alyssa's earlier novels are Finding Grace, Walking Naked and Being Bindy, which are distributed around the world. Alyssa's books have been shortlisted for numerous literature and children's choice awards in Australia and overseas.
Alyssa lives in the Hunter Valley with her partner and their seven horses. She writes full time. You can find more information about Alyssa, her books and her horses at www.alyssabrugman.com.au