Why Rabbits Have Long Ears

Why Rabbits Have Long Ears

A long time ago, when the world was young, when pussycats lived in trees and people hadn’t even been invented, all rabbits had perfectly ordinary ears. In those innocent times, rabbits were on friendly terms with foxes. In fact the rabbits worked for the foxes gathering the news.

Then as now, the fox was a most curious creature, always interested in what other animals were doing. Because foxes were not trusted by most of the other animals, the only way a fox could find out what was going on in the world was to send a rabbit out to listen for him. No one was afraid of the rabbits. Everyone thought they were harmless and cute.

Rabbits would hang around munching on grass, minding their own business but, in reality, they were eavesdropping on what the other animals were saying. Cautiously they would work their way closer to the conversation. They would twitch their cute little noses and remember everything that was said. When they heard something good, they hurried back to the foxes and the foxes spread it all around the animal world.

Now, there is nothing a fox likes better than a juicy bit of gossip or a good rumor. If the rabbits brought back something interesting, they would be rewarded with carrots; if they came back empty handed, the foxes would give them nothing.

To keep the fox’s happy and to keep the carrots coming, the rabbits began making up their own stories. The foxes didn’t care long as the story was a good one. A rumor is a rumor and gossip is gossip after all no matter where it comes from.

After a while, the rabbits were making up more stories than they were over hearing. The more outlandish the story, the better the foxes liked it.

Most of the other animals were aware of what the rabbits and foxes were up to and paid them no mind. But some animals believed what the foxes said and thought they were getting the truth.

Things went along this way for quite a while until one slow news day the rabbits over reached. It was a hot summer day and there simply was no gossip to be had. All of the animals were asleep in their houses. In desperation the rabbits made up a silly story. They told the foxes that they over heard the animals planning a special dinner. A ceremony to award the foxes for all their hard work in reporting the news. The foxes were suspicious and ordered the rabbits find out more about it. The rabbits obliged and made up more and more details about the big dinner. The foxes fell for it completely. The night of the dinner the foxes got all dressed up and went to the auditorium expecting a huge crowd. When they arrived, the hall was empty. They were the only ones there. When the other animals learned of the deception, they laughed their heads off. The foxes were embarrassed, humiliated, and very very angry.

It did not turn out well for the rabbits — many were eaten right on the spot. Those that weren’t eaten, had their ears stretched like rubber.

“Maybe this will help you hear better,” said a fox as he stretched a rabbit’s ears until it flopped over. “Let that be a lesson to you,” said another.

To this very day the effects of that deception still have an effect on the world. All rabbits have long ears stretched by the angry foxes. Rabbits and foxes are no longer on good terms. And the last thing everyone learned is to never believe anything a fox tells you is news.