Chapter 1 - The House of Buns
Binky, binky, zoomie, flop. Merlot was a happy little rabbit as she flopped down beside Enzo. Life at The House of Buns was adjusting to a new normal. Dad missed his little girl, Abigail, but Merlot’s and Enzo’s antics brought a smile to his face.
For over seven years, Abigail had reined as queen of the House of Buns. At first, it was just the two of them. Dad gave her free roam access to the entire house, but she self-limited herself to the main floor. Looking after two stories was more territory than the little Netherland Dwarf wanted to manage. She and Dad spent many hours together on the floor, getting to know each other. She stole his heart and never gave it back.
Two years later, the first “foster fail” happened. Bentley, an English Spot, was supposed to be a temporary foster when his time was up at a local shelter. Fearless and curious, less than an hour after he arrived, he won Dad’s heart with his plucky personality, and Dad invited him to stay.
Bentley made it clear from the get-go that he was a confirmed bachelor and had no interest in bonding with another rabbit. Since Abigail wasn’t using the bedroom level of the house, Bentley was content to share that floor with Dad. Now that Abigail was gone, he took over making sure Dad got his evening bunny-petting time.
A year later, Dad “inherited” two mini-lops, Mocha and Hobo. Dad, along with his friend Chelsea, had been caring for these two buns every week at an assisted living center, where their owner, Alvin, a disabled veteran, lived. Dad hated that they had to live outside in a hutch, so he promised them he would give them a better home when they were done looking after Alvin.
True to his word, when Alvin passed away, Dad scooped up Mocha and Hobo and brought them to live at The House of Buns. He converted a 200 square foot bedroom into the Starship Bunnyprise for Captain Hobo and Mister Mocha. They are the senior buns at the house, with Mocha being around 10 years old and Hobo around 8 years old.
Two years ago, a second foster fail happened when Dad discovered Enzo, a Dutch/Lionhead mix, sitting in a kennel at the back of a local shelter. Dad noticed his foot was injured. When the shelter talked about amputating his leg – or worse – Dad sprang into action and rescued Enzo.
Enzo has a heart of gold and is very friendly with humans. By the time his leg healed, he had won Dad’s heart. It took a little longer to win Abigail’s heart, but eventually, he did, and the two of them bonded, and Abigail shared her living space with him.
Last year, a third foster fail happened when Dad volunteered to transport Merlot, a Dwarf mix, from the shelter to the vet for a spay appointment. The vet was too far from the shelter to pick up and drop off in the same day, so Merlot had to spend a couple of nights as a guest at The House of Buns.
Not feeling well after her spay surgery, she snuggled up against Dad’s head for comfort. Dad could hear her little heart beating, which melted his heart. “You’re going to have to win Enzo’s and Abigail’s hearts, too, if you want to stay,” Dad told her. Sure enough, in two weeks, she had befriended them both and the three rabbits bonded.
Chestnut, the little bunny angel whom Abigail had sent to Dad to help him heal, went back to Auntie Heather so he could be cared for by a rabbit mom who had just given birth.
All was peaceful at The House of Buns. Abigail, now a bunny angel, watched over them, and lived on in the hearts of many.
The House of Buns started with that little two pound rabbit named Abigail. Hence, this would always be known as Abigail’s House of Buns.
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