Stuck at Rabbit's

IN WHICH POOH GOES VISITING AND GETS INTO A TIGHT PLACE

Winnie-the-Pooh is walking through the big, green forest. The sun is warm on his fluffy fur. He is humming a happy little song to himself, a song he made up just this morning. Tra-la-la, rum-tum-tiddle-um-tum.

He hums his little song as he walks along. He wonders what all his friends are doing today. As he wonders, he comes to a sandy bank. And in the bank, there is a big, round hole.

"Oh!" says Pooh. "A hole! That looks like Rabbit's house. And Rabbit's house means a friendly visit. And a friendly visit means... a little something to eat!"

Pooh peeks his head into the dark hole. "Is anyone home?" he calls.

Shuffle, shuffle. A little noise comes from inside. Then, it's quiet.

Pooh calls again, a little louder. "I said, is anyone home?"

"No!" says a voice from the dark. "And you don't need to shout."

"Oh, bother," says Pooh. "Is nobody here at all?"

"Nobody."

Pooh pulls his head out. He thinks a soft, fluffy think. Someone must be inside, he thinks, because someone said "Nobody."

So he puts his head back in. "Hello? Rabbit? Is that you?"

"No," says the voice.

"But... it sounds like Rabbit's voice."

"I don't think so," says the voice.

Pooh thinks one more time. "Well," he says, "could you tell me where Rabbit is?"

"He went to visit his good friend, Winnie-the-Pooh."

Pooh Bear's eyes get wide. "But... that's me! I am Winnie-the-Pooh!"

"Are you sure?" asks the voice, sounding surprised.

"Yes, I am very, very sure," says Pooh.

"Oh! Well then... come in!"

So Pooh pushes and pushes. He wiggles and jiggles and squeezes his way in. At last, he pops inside Rabbit's cozy home.

"It is you!" says Rabbit. "I am so happy to see you. Would you like a little something?"

Pooh's tummy rumbles a happy rumble. Yes, please!

Rabbit gets out the plates and jars. "Would you like honey, or yummy milk on your bread?" he asks.

Pooh is so excited, he says, "Both, please!" Then he whispers, "But you can keep the bread."

Pooh eats and eats until his tummy is full and he feels very happy and a little bit sticky.

Finally, with a sticky smile, Pooh says, "Thank you, Rabbit. I must be going now." He gets up and shakes Rabbit's paw.

"You're sure you won't have any more?" asks Rabbit, looking at the empty jars.

"Is there any more?" Pooh asks, hopefully.

Rabbit looks in all the dishes. "No, all gone."

"I thought not," Pooh nods. "Well, goodbye!"

He turns to the round front door. He starts to climb out. He pulls with his front paws. He pushes with his back paws.

First his nose is outside... then his ears... then his front paws... then his shoulders... and then... he stops.

He can't move.

"Oh, help," says Pooh. "I think I'd better go back in." He tries to wiggle back, but he can't.

"Oh, bother," says Pooh. "I will have to go on." He tries to wiggle out, but he can't.

"Oh, help and bother! I can't go forward, and I can't go back!"

Rabbit wants to go for a walk, but his front door is full of bear. So, he hops out his back door and comes around to the front of his house.

"Hello, Pooh. Are you stuck?" he asks.

"N-no," says Pooh. "Just... resting. And thinking."

"Here, let me help," says Rabbit. He takes Pooh's paws and he pulls... and pulls... and pulls!

"Ouch!" cries Pooh. "You're hurting!"

"You are stuck," says Rabbit. "It's because your tummy is so full of honey. I will go get Christopher Robin."

Soon, Christopher Robin arrives. He sees the front half of Pooh sticking out of the hole, and he says in a kind and loving voice, "Silly old Bear."

Pooh feels much better.

"I was just thinking," Pooh sniffs, "Rabbit might not be able to use his front door ever again."

"Don't worry," says Christopher Robin. "We'll get you out. We just have to wait for you to get a little bit smaller again."

"How long will that take?" asks Pooh.

"About a week, I think."

"A whole week!" says Pooh sadly. "What about meals?"

"I'm afraid no meals, little bear, so you can get smaller more quickly. But we will read you stories to keep you company."

Rabbit smiles. "And if you don't mind," he says, "your back legs are right in my living room. They would make a very good place to hang my towels to dry."

A whole week with no snacks. A single tear rolls down Pooh's fuzzy cheek. "Then would you read me a very comforting story? For a bear who is very, very stuck?"

So for a week, Christopher Robin reads stories to the North end of Pooh, and Rabbit hangs his laundry on the South end of Pooh. And every day, Pooh feels himself getting a little bit smaller... and a little bit smaller.

At the end of the week, Christopher Robin says, "Now! It's time!"

He takes hold of Pooh's front paws. Rabbit takes hold of Christopher Robin. And all of Rabbit's family and friends take hold of Rabbit.

"Ready... set... PULL!"

They all pull together.

"Ouch!" says Pooh.

They pull a little harder.

"Oh!" says Pooh.

They give one... more... big... PULL!

POP!

Winnie-the-Pooh flies out of the hole like a cork from a bottle! Everyone tumbles down in a happy, giggly pile.

Pooh Bear is free!

He gives his friends a happy nod. Then he continues his walk through the Hundred Acre Wood, proudly humming his little song.