A Story About Bunnies. (Mildly NSFL)

So my brother is...different.  He's a migrant farm worker, hobo, and all-around hippie.  Great guy, but doesn't bathe much.  This is a story about a conversation my brother and I had with my nephew, who was 5 at the time.

My brother's car is usually full of random scrap metal, tools, and general grime.  He also has a lovely collection of natural objects and pieces of dead animals.  One of these such bits was the skin of a domestic (read: pet) rabbit pinned to the ceiling over the driver's seat.

So it's a lovely summer day and we're having a bit of a cookout.  My nephew wandered over to the car and studied the rabbit skin.  "What's that?"

"It's a rabbit skin," my brother replied.  "I killed it and ate it."

This is 100% true.  My brother loves animals, but he also loves eating animals.  Apparently this rabbit's owner--not my brother--was bored of it so they decided to have lunch.  I heard it didn't taste very good, which is not a surprise, but he ate all of it, because he didn't want the rabbit's death to be in vain.  He also eats road kill and anything his dog catches.

Pets are not food. Unless you're my brother.

"Oh," my nephew said, not at all concerned about this.  "How?"

"We hit it in the head with a hammer."  (Again, true. I'm told it was fast and merciful.)

"I want to do that! My mom will cook it for me!"

And at this point I had to step in and interject. "Honey, you are never ever to kill an animal unless you plan on skinning and eating it yourself.  And your mom is not going to do it for you."  I paused, thinking of the kitten and puppy his parents had recently gotten him.  "And cats and dogs are NOT for eating. Do you understand? You are not allowed to eat the cat."

My nephew tilted his head and finally answered, "Okay!" And he wandered away.

This happened last summer and so far his pets are still alive, so I think he got the message.


Photo Credit: "Conejitos" by Jan.Roque