Story 11 by Richard Stubbs — September 17, 2026
It was a breezy afternoon at Waterfall Kennels and Cattery in Fourways. Granddad Richard was just finishing his afternoon rounds, making sure all his furry guests were comfortable, when his tablet buzzed on the desk.
He smiled as he saw the familiar caller ID — it was another call from 7 Stichwort Lane in Ashford.
Tyler and Jordyn appeared on screen looking flushed, out of breath, and tremendously excited.
"Granddad!" shouted Tyler, barely able to sit still. "You'll never guess what happened just now. Barnaby got out!"
Barnaby was the children's new lop-eared rabbit, a recent addition to the busy household.
"We were feeding him a carrot and we left the hutch door open just a tiny crack," Jordyn explained, her eyes wide. "He pushed it open with his nose and hopped straight into Dad's vegetable patch."
Jack and Joey, the ginger tabby and the black-and-white cat, had previously thought they were the undisputed kings of the garden.
Jack took one look at the giant fluffy thing hopping toward him, gave a loud yowl, and scrambled straight up the nearest apple tree.
Joey didn't even wait — he just bolted and hid under the old wheelbarrow, not daring to face the fearsome intruder.
"Chase him? No way!" laughed Tyler. "They were terrified!"
The cats — so confident in their domain just moments before — had been completely undone by one curious, nose-twitching rabbit on the loose.
It took Dad ten whole minutes to coax Barnaby back — armed with nothing but a fresh head of lettuce and a great deal of patience, tiptoeing carefully through the cabbages while Jordyn giggled from the sidelines.
"It certainly sounds like Jack and Joey have learned a valuable lesson today. It appears Barnaby is the real boss of the garden now!"
— Granddad Richard
His eyes twinkled with amusement as he delivered his verdict — and somewhere in Ashford, two very humbled cats were no doubt reconsidering their place in the pecking order.
Lop-eared rabbit. Escaped via a tiny crack in the hutch. Conquered the garden without even trying.
Former kings of the garden. Now residing up an apple tree and under a wheelbarrow respectively.
Never underestimate a lop-eared rabbit with a nose for adventure — and a taste for lettuce.
The Runaway Rabbit