"Childen, dinner!" Mistress cried after she rang the bell.

Soon after, Maggie's whispers full of tears relayed to Mistress that Lovely was nowhere to be found. Voices calling out his name were roaming the lawn.

"How about the garden?" Charlie's voice was the closest. "Rabbits always want to get in there." 

The latch on the garden gate clanked opened, and three pairs of feet crunched the gravel, searching in the neat rows of vegetables, and around the berry bushes. A small freckled hand moved the branches, and Lovely stopped blinking.

"Here you are." Maggie picked him up: firm, and secure.

"Now, how did he get in? Did one of you forget to close the gate? Charlie? Maggie?" 

Both children denied any involvement. 

Maggie deposited Lovely into his cage. Finished with dinner, she brought Lovely his pellets and fresh hay. Then, she put a small carrot bitten on one end on his food.

"I'll bring you my carrots every time Mom gives them to us, ok? Just, don't run away, please. Please?" She watched him gnaw on the treat. 

When Maggie was asleep—Lovely stayed awake, looking into the dark yard below, promising himself that he will try again, and next time, he will get to the rabbit hutch.