Ruby's Broken Bone

Ruby's Broken Bone Part 4

"My leg is back to normal!" She shouted in celebration. "I'm so excited!" She ran over to her parents and hugged them. "No more cast! No more crutches! No more boot!"

"I can assume you've learned in the past five weeks to be more careful, Ruby," said the doctor.

"I will, Doc," said Ruby. "Oh, I'm just so excited to play on the playground again!"

"Oh yeah, isn't the big rematch of the big Freeze Tag tournament tomorrow?" asked Mr. Bunny. "If I recall, you're still 'it.'"

"Yup," said Ruby. She then put on a cunning maniacal smile resembling her brother's as she rubbed her paws together. "I've got some unfinished business."

That Saturday, all the neighborhood kids were gathered at the playground to pick up the tournament from over a month ago. Roger stood in his referee outfit with his whistle around his neck as everyone else was running around. Just then, Max and Ruby arrived followed by their parents pushing Grace and Oliver in the double jogger stroller. Everyone cheered and applauded as they watched Ruby arrive with no cast or boot, walking normally.

"Alright, Ruby," said Roger. "You ready to pick up where we left off?"

"Yes, I am," Ruby said with clenched fists and a confident expression.

"Last I remember you just got Antonio and Louise." Roger then turned to Antonio and Louise and pointed to them. "So you two can just sit the rest of this round out."

"It's more fun though to stay 'frozen,'" Louise said. With that, she ran over by the swing set and resumed her 'frozen' position with her arms spread out and standing on one leg.

"I think I remember I was toppled over like this," Antonio said as he bent over the side of the crawl tube with his arms dangling.

"Whatever you guys want," Roger said. "Everyone else find a starting postion. And new rule by the way: the top platform on the playground is out of bounds!"

"Aww," said Max and his friends.

"We just can't risk anyone else getting hurt," said Roger. "Now everyone find starting positions!" Everyone found a spot on the playground premises except up in the top platform at the top of the tallest slide and summit of the rock wall. "Everybunny ready?"

"Yeah!" shouted voices.

"Ruby, are you ready?"

"Let's do this!" Ruby said with her knees slightly bent, poised to take off.

"Alright, on your mark! Get set!" Roger blew his whistle to continue the match. 

Ruby was hot on everyone's trails trying to tag as many bunnies as she could. She remained laser focused as not to get distracted by any taunting or teasing.

"You can't catch me!" Lily sang as she ran. For a stubby little rabbit, she was fast even for Ruby. However, all that Lily had in speed, she lacked in reflexes, so when she was on the other side of a pole at the swing set, Ruby was able to outsmart her and tag her.

"Gotcha, Lily!" Ruby bragged. Lily assumed a 'frozen' position as Ruby tried to pick up the pace. She shuffled back to the main playground where Priya was trying to play it safe on the lowest platform above the ground. Rather than climb up onto the platform to tag her, Ruby snuck down and hid underneath where Priya was standing.

"Where's 'it' gone?" Priya said. Valerie could see Ruby hiding underneath her, yet did not say anything, but just giggled. "What's so funny, Valerie?"

"Nothing," Valerie said giggling even more. "It's just... you might not wanna be standing there for long."

"Why not?" asked Priya. "I feel safe here."