by Annie M Manzi

Created on: March 09, 2010   Last Updated: April 19, 2010

The slight blond haired girl was dwarfed by the very large German Shepherd. They were inseparable. Unless she got into a car and traveled to another place, he was always by her side looking out for unseen dangers that may harm her. Gwen loved her dog Duke although his enormous size caused her untold scrapped knees and bruises as his tail could easily knock her to the ground like she was a feather.

Gwen loved holidays and her parents were generous with their little traditions that made those days special in her eyes. However they did have a tendency to pull pranks now and then. The Easter of Gwen’s fifth year was no different.

“How is the Easter Bunny supposed to get here with all the snow Mommy?” Gwen asked pleadingly. She did not want to miss out on those wonderful chocolate bunnies and coconut filled chocolate eggs that were her favorites.

“Don’t worry Sweetie, that bunny is crafty and he will know how to get here with no problem.” answered her mom with such a sense of confidence that Gwen took heart and it made her laugh out loud.

“Mommy” she squealed, “I am sooooo happy!”  She danced on her tippy toes around the kitchen.
Her mom looked down upon at her with affection as Duke thumped his massive tail against the cabinets. If his ward was happy, he was happy.

Gwen was an exuberant child who was always dancing, galloping around the house or singing at the top of her lungs. She started to sing a little ditty about the Easter bunny she learned at Sunday school at the little church across the valley.

“Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail, hippity hoppity, Easter is on its way!” She sang loudly as she hopped around the house with her little hands curled up by her chin, mimicking a two legged bunny bounding down the path to her home as Duke romped next to her happily.

The night before Easter Gwen’s parents helped her leave out a couple of fresh carrots with the tops still left on for the Easter Bunny. Gwen carefully counted each carrot left behind in the refrigerator. She wanted to catch her parents if they were not telling her the truth about the Easter Bunny. She had heard rumors that the spring icon did not exist from a few of the boys at school. But she knew better, she had proof! The Easter bunny always took the carrots and left her candy. There was no hint of anything different. But she wanted to make sure. Anyway her parents told her that there was an

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