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by Steven Utley
Science Fiction, 4 pages.
Originally Published in Modern Stories, 1983
(1) Rate this Story Hoppy and Poppy Huggybunny were going to the seashore. Mother Huggybunny had packed a picnic basket for them, and in it were frothy fruit juice and big pieces of carrot cake and other tasty things. Hoppy and Poppy carried the picnic basket between them. As they merrily skipped along the path that led to the sugar-crystal beach and the lemonade sea, they sang a happy song:
“The sun is high and fine,
And I am feeling funny.
I have a splendid time —
I am a huggybunny!”
Then, just as they came in sight of the beach, Poppy clapped her hands and pointed.
“Oh!” she said. “Oh, look, Hoppy!”
Hoppy looked. “Goodness,” he said. “It’s a giant!”
There was indeed a huge giant on the beach. The giant was dressed all in silver. It looked to the two surprised huggybunnies that the giant was fast asleep.
“I’m afraid,” Poppy said to Hoppy. “Let’s run away.”
“The giant is asleep,” said Hoppy to Poppy. “It looks like a friendly giant, too. Perhaps it has a treasure that we can take home to Mother Huggybunny. Let’s go see.”
“Okay, Hoppy,” said Poppy.
So the two little huggybunnies hippity-hopped down to where the giant lay sleeping. Just then it opened its eyes and sat up.
“Ooh!” said the huggybunnies, holding each other.
The giant looked down at them and roared, “What?”
Hoppy and Poppy were very frightened now, but they did not try to run away.
Poppy said, “Are you a good giant or an evil giant, sir?”
“Rabbits?” said the giant. The giant looked as scared as the huggybunnies.
“We are huggybunnies,” said Hoppy. “We live near here. What is your name, Mister Giant?”
“Amazing,” said the giant. “Candy beach, soda-pop ocean, now talking rabbits. Goddamn amazing.”
“You look hungry, Mister Amazing,” said Poppy. “Would you like to share the goodies in our picnic basket?”
The giant slowly took the basket from Poppy and looked inside. He was a strange giant. He shook his head and put the basket down.
“Is this Earth?” asked the giant. “I was supposed t -- [End of Preview.]