On my walk home the other night, a shadowy lump bolted across the sidewalk in front of me. I froze. The lump froze.

If you’ve ever walked the city streets at night, you know what the lumps are. In decades of urban life, I have seen approximately ten thousand furry shadows, and every single one of them has been a rat.  

On this night, I took a breath, ready to hurry past.

The lump leapt into the light.

Not rat, but rabbit! 

In my certainty I’d nearly rushed right by.

Dear ones, 

may we all be on the lookout for a midnight bunny.

Even if – especially if –

she follows ten thousand rats.