The Rabbit on the Cage List

Amit came to the animal shelter at eight. It was adoption day. The big hall was full of cages and noise.

Wilf stood at the front desk with a long list. He looked at Amit and smiled.

"You are the new volunteer," he said. "I am Wilf. Today we find homes for ten animals."

"I am Amit. What do I do?" Amit asked.

"You put a name card on each cage. Use this list."

Amit took the list and read it. Cage one held a black cat. Cage two held a small brown dog. Cage three held a white rabbit named Ciro.

He put the cards on the cages. Then he stopped. Cage three had a dog inside. Cage two had a rabbit.

"Wilf, I think the list is wrong," he said.

Wilf came over and looked. His face went very serious. "I wrote this list at midnight," he said. "I was sleepy."

"So the rabbit is in the dog's cage?" Amit asked.

"Yes. And the dog sits in the rabbit's cage. Quick, we must change them."

Amit opened cage two. He reached for the rabbit. The rabbit looked at him. Then it jumped and ran away.

"Ciro!" Wilf shouted. "Stop that rabbit!"

The doors opened at nine. People came in. A little girl screamed and pointed. The rabbit ran past her and under a table.

Amit ran after it. Wilf ran from the other side. They met in the middle, and they hit each other.

"Sorry," Amit said. He sat on the floor.

"My fault," Wilf said. He sat on the floor too. "I like your plan. We both fall down, and the rabbit laughs."

Amit laughed. Wilf laughed too. A man with a cat in a box walked past. He looked at them.

"We work here," Wilf told the man. "It is a very good job."

Then Amit saw a long white ear. The rabbit sat under a chair near the door. It ate a leaf from a plant.

"I have an idea," Amit said. "Rabbits love lettuce."

"I have a sandwich," Wilf said. "It has lettuce inside."

"Give it to me."

Wilf took the sandwich from his bag. He opened it and gave Amit a green leaf. Amit sat on the floor again. He held the leaf in his hand and waited.

The rabbit looked at the leaf. It came closer, one small jump at a time. Wilf sat very still next to Amit. His shoulder touched Amit's shoulder.

"Easy," Wilf said softly. "Easy, Ciro."

The rabbit took the leaf. Amit picked it up with both hands. Everyone in the hall clapped.

"You are a hero," Wilf said. "I will tell the boss."

"You made the list," Amit said. "I think the boss will remember that."

Wilf made a sad face. "Please do not tell her about the list."

They walked back to the cages. Amit put the rabbit in cage three. The dog went to cage two. Then he put the right cards on the right cages.

The little girl came back with her father. She looked at Ciro for a long time.

"I want this rabbit," she said. "He is funny."

"He is," Wilf said. "He is also very fast."

The father signed a paper. The girl carried the rabbit out in a small box. Ciro looked back at Amit once.

At noon the hall was quiet. Seven animals had new homes. Wilf gave Amit a cup of water. He gave him half a sandwich too.

"There is no lettuce left," he said.

"The rabbit ate it," Amit said.

"Then he works here too." Wilf took a pen and wrote on the list. He turned it around.

Under the cage numbers, it said: "Best volunteer today: Amit. Worst list writer: Wilf."

Amit took the pen. He wrote one more line. "Next Saturday, Wilf checks the list. Amit brings the lettuce."