133. 1st Grade SSR. Why Rabbits Have Short Tails

​In the past, Rabbit had a long and fluffy tail. He was quite proud of it.

“See my pretty tail?” Rabbit bragged loudly all the time. “Don’t you wish you had a tail like mine?”

Fox had a long, fluffy tail, too. He was tired of Rabbit and his endless boasts. So Fox made a plan to trick Rabbit.

​Fox knew Rabbit went to the lake every day. First, he waited for the lake to freeze. He cut a hole in the ice, and then he tied four big fish to his tail.

When Fox saw Rabbit, he quickly dropped his tail into the freezing water.

“What are you doing?” Rabbit asked. “I’m fishing,” Fox answered.

​“Why are you fishing with your tail?” Rabbit asked.

“I catch more fish with my tail than with a hook,” said Fox. “In fact, I feel a tug now!”

Fox lifted his tail. Rabbit saw the fish on Fox’s tail. “I need six more fish,” Fox said.

“What will you do with all the fish?” Rabbit asked him.

“I saw a clip with gems on it,” said Fox. “I can trade ten fish for it. Bear says there is one clip left. I’m going to put it on my tail to make it sparkle. I’ll come back again and fish until I have ten fish to trade.”

Fox left Rabbit on the ice and went to hide in the woods. He waited to see what Rabbit would do.

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“I won’t let his tail look better than mine!” Rabbit said. “I need that clip! I’ll stay here all night and catch ten fish,” Rabbit said, and he stuck his tail into the fishing hole.

Fox came back at sunrise and asked Rabbit what he was doing. Rabbit was so cold he could hardly talk.

“Fishing,” he said weakly

​“Did you catch any fish?” Fox asked.

Rabbit tried to look, but the hole was frozen again and he was stuck!

“Let me help,” Fox said as he gave Rabbit a mighty push.

“Ouch!” yelped Rabbit. His long tail was stuck in the ice, and a fuzzy ball was in its place. To this day, rabbits have short tails.