Can we play already? Timoshka asks.
Yes, we can play already, Alyosha answers.
But Bertha says, Wait, I hear some noise in the castle. Somebody is there.
No, it is impossible, Alyosha smiles, only toys are there.
Tsss, Bertha says, listen.
The friends are very quiet. They are listening.
Yes, Timoshka whispers, I hear some noise too.
Me too, Moc whispers very quietly.
Me too, Happy Hop whispers very, very quietly.
Who is there? Timoshka asks, Is he dangerous?
Timoshka, Moc and Happy Hop are trying to hide behind Bertha and Alyosha.
Suddenly the castle begins to fall down. Somebody is moving in the castle and trying to go out.
CHAPTER 23. RABBIT RICKY
Oh! Timoshka cries.
Oh! Moc and Happy Hop cry.
They run away from the sandbox and hide in Berthas house.
And what about Alyosha and Bertha? Do they run away too? No, they dont.
Bertha does not run away because she stays to protect Alyosha. She is very brave.
And Alyosha knows that nothing dangerous can happen in his yard. And he is brave too.
They are sitting and waiting for somebody who is trying to get out of the sand.
Lets help him, Alyosha says.
They begin to dig the sand.
At first, they see one long ear. Then they see one more long ear. Then they see a small pink nose. And at last, they see a little white rabbit.
What are you doing in our castle? Alyosha asks the rabbit.
It was cold at night. And I wanted to sleep. The castle was so nice and big and warm. I wanted to sleep in it. And when I wanted to go out the castle ruined, the rabbit says.
And what is your name? Bertha asks.
My name is Ricky Long Ears, the rabbit answers.
At this moment Timoshka, Moc and Happy Hop look out of Berthas house. They are afraid, but they want to know who was in the castle.
Come here! Alyosha calls them, look, we have a new friend.
CHAPTER 24. A NEW FRIEND
Glad to meet you, Timoshka, Moc and Happy Hop say to the rabbit.
Glad to meet you, answers Ricky Long Ears.
How did you get to our yard? Moc asks.
I lived in a big park with my mother, father and brother Nicky, Ricky says. We played with Nicky near our hole. Suddenly a big dog appeared. I was afraid and started to run. Then I did not know where I was. I was cold and tired and hungry and I wanted to sleep. I saw your yard and wanted to hide here. And then I saw your big and beautiful castle.
Do you want to be our friend and live with us? Happy Hop asks.
I want to be your friend but I want to find my mother and father and my brother Nicky. I think they worry about me. I want to live with them but I can come to play with you, Ricky Long Ears says.
I think we must help Ricky to find his family, Bertha says.
At this moment Father comes to Alyosha.
Oh, a new friend? he asks.
Dad, meet Ricky Long Ears, Alyosha says. We must help him to find his family. And Alyosha tells Father Rickys story. Dad, can you help us too?
I think I can, Father says, I know a big park where rabbits live. But at first, lets have breakfast. I think Ricky is hungry. And after breakfast, we can try to find his family.
CHAPTER 25. RICKY FINDS NICKY
After breakfast, Alyosha and Father and all the friends start to the park where rabbits live. The park is rather far and in ten minutes Moc says, I am tired.
Me too, Happy Hop says.
I am not tired, Bertha is not tired, why are you tired? Timoshka asks.
Because they are small, smaller than you and Bertha. And their legs are small too, Alyosha explains. Their legs are smaller than your legs.
Alyosha, Alyosha, may I sit in your pocket? Moc asks.
Me too, Happy Hop says.
Alyosha takes his small friends and puts them into his pocket.
It is so nice to sit in the pocket so high, much higher than Timoshka and Bertha!
Now they can go quick, much quicker than before.
When they come to the park Moc suddenly cries, I see a small white rabbit! There under that big tree! Near a big hole. And he looks very sad.
It is my brother Nicky, Ricky says, And this is our den. Lets go quicker!
Wait, Alyosha says, lets make a surprise for Nicky.
He goes to the small white rabbit and asks, Are you Nicky?
Yes, I am, the rabbit answers.
And why are you so sad? Alyosha asks.
Because I dont know where my brother Ricky is, Nicky says. In the morning he was afraid of a big dog and ran away and now I dont know where he is.
Surprise! the friends cry and Ricky comes to his brother.
Nicky is happy.
Ricky is happy.
Timoshka, Bertha and Moc are happy.
Happy Hop is jumping very high because he is very happy.
Alyosha and Father are smiling, they are happy too.
Thank you, my friends, Ricky says. You helped me to find my family.
Come to play with us someday, Alyosha says, you both.