I shuffled from side to side as the line for the giant Easter Bunny slowly moved forward. It looked like the same chair in the Blue Ridge Mall where I’d seen Santa. Maybe they knew each other. It was finally my turn. I tried to sit still long enough to list all the toys and candy I wanted Mr. Bunny to leave in my wicker basket on Easter Sunday.
Little Philip: We need to put out the baskets. The Easter Bunny is going to bring my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures.
Mom: It’s dinner time, we have a few hours. And how do you know what he’s bringing?
Little Philip: I told him what to bring me.
Mom: Like chocolate eggs?
Little Philip: Yes! But also a chocolate bunny the size of my head and not empty inside.
Right before bed, the baskets appeared on the kitchen table. Each one was a shade of brown and filled with plastic neon grass. I woke up to check at 10, no Bunny yet. Then midnight, still nothing in my basket. Hmmm. Then 5, jackpot! It was a muted celebration, as I wasn’t allowed to wake Mom up until the sun was up.
Little Philip: The Easter Bunny came!! MOM!!!! Are you awake?
Mom: Ummm, yeah. What did you get?
Little Philip: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures, the bunny one I wanted! And Cadbury eggs! And a chocolate bunny. But…
Mom: But, what?
Little Philip: It’s hollow and barely the size of my hand.
Mom: Don’t you have enough candy?
Usagi Yojimbo fought Shredder until it was time to put on my Sunday best and head to Granny’s. The rest of the day was filled with egg hunts, ham, rolls, and enough sugar to keep Wonka out of the poor house.
We shuffled from side to side as the line for the giant Easter Bunny slowly moved forward. It looked like the same chair in the Asheville Mall where she’d seen Santa. Maybe she wouldn’t notice. It was finally her turn to tell Mr. Bunny what she wanted in her basket for Easter. I caught bits of chocolate, books, and markers, but couldn’t make out the rest through the bustle of the mall.
Philip: Did you tell the Easter Bunny what you wanted?
Elle: Yeah.
Philip: What did you tell him?
Elle: Why?
Philip: So, I can make sure he gets you the right stuff.
Elle: He knows what to get me.
Philip: Ugh.
The next week, Mr. Bunny was making an appearance at Elle’s daycare. It was all she talked about. I heard about it on car rides home, before bed, and even between bites of dinner. The day finally came.
Philip: You ready to go?
Elle: Sure.
Philip: What’s the matter?
Elle: I don’t wanna talk about it.
Philip: Ok. How was the Easter Bunny?
Elle: I don’t wanna talk about it.
Philip: Hmmm, ok?
Elle: He’s not real. I know so.
Philip: I’m not sure what you’re talking about.
Elle: I saw his zipper!!
