THE STORY LINE 123

' "Allow your good puppy Kirby to have, for a day, the abilities we rabbits enjoy--not just the ability to decimate a garden in two shakes of a cotton tail, but to send delicious eggs to all for Easter Day!" Naomi asked the magical egg.

THE STORY LINE 122

' So Little Naomi closed her eyes and incanted:

"O Great Egg Maker Above, Mother Hen to all that is Ovoid, send me a fresh Magic Egg to help our friend Kirby the Puppy in his time of need!"

And a lovely sapphire and pearl egg with gold trim descended from The Great Nest into Naomi's waiting arms.

THE STORY LINE 121

' "You do? Let's hear it," said Kirby.

"My sister and I, we both have magic eggs that can help you."

"You have magic eggs you will give me?"

"No, we cannot give them to you. The magic is exclusive to bunnies. We can use them to help you do the work of the real Easter Bunny. We'll show you."

THE STORY LINE 120

' Yes, of course you may," Kirby said. "Now, let's get you some baskets."

"Excuse me, Mister Easter Puppy," said Naomi. "I have a better idea."

THE STORY LINE 119

' Kirby had to admit the little bunny dolls were adorable, especially dressed in their little kimonos, and also looked a lot more like a bunny than he ever could. "What are your names?" he asked them.

"I am Naomi and my sister is Tamaki. Can we come along?"

THE STORY LINE 118

' "Will ya look at this doll?" said the piper. She's a bunny, too, and she's got a sister just as cute. "They're our groupies."

THE STORY LINE 117

' Last one out is a rotten egg!" Kirby said.

"That is just so not funny," said the eggs. "Just wait til you see the last ones out!"

THE STORY LINE 116

' No, really, we're going," Kirby insisted.

"Don't you want to see who else we can get to help?"

"We're fine, I'm closing the egg box now."

THE STORY LINE 115

' "This little fella is mighty quick with the candy, does a fast refill, too."

"Fine, bring him, let's go already," Kirby said.

"Oh, maybe one more request?" asked the eggs.

THE STORY LINE 114

' "Hang on, one quick sec, we got to get a few more of the gang with us," said the eggs.

"Hurry up! said Kirby. Next thing you know it'll be Thanksgiving!"

THE STORY LINE 113

' "No, I can't say as I have," Kirby admitted. "But I imagine it's a situation that shows real mettle."

"We can play Metal, sure," said the eggs.

"O.K., then let's go!" said Kirby.

THE STORY LINE 112

' "Then we'll need our roadies to help," said the lead singer.

"Can they work fast?" Kirby asked.

The Piper sighed. "You've never needed a piccolo switched out last minute before going on, have you?"

THE STORY LINE 111

' Two more eggs jumped up. "What's the gig?" asked the lead singer.

"Delivering Easter goodies all over the world."

"A tour! How rad!" said the Piper.

"Yes, but we have just a few hours," said Kirby.

THE STORY LINE 110

' "That's great!" Kirby said. "You're sure now? You don't mind that it's a little weird?'

"It's very weird, everyone knows that. But I don't mind as long as my band buddies can come, too."

"Where are your band buddies?" Kirby asked.

THE STORY LINE 109

' A young musician egg with an accordion jumped up. "I'll go with you, little pup!"

THE STORY LINE 108

' And with that insult--not just to Kirby, but to the knishes at Liebmann's, which are always fresh and hot--they hopped back into the box.

"Are there no eggs willing to have a little faith in me?" Kirby asked.

THE STORY LINE 107

' "You are asking me to prove that something will not happen in the future," Kirby argued. "I can tell you that I'm not the same little lost puppy I was when this all started."

"No, you're a little lost puppy with bunny ears," crowed the rooster egg.

"Give it up," said the bunny egg. "You are as much about Easter as a cold knish at Liebmann's deli."

THE STORY LINE 106

' The rooster egg jumped up to the ledge.

"You're with me?" said Kirby.

"No, I'm with the bunny," he crowed. "We're going nowhere once you reconnect with the folks."

"I'm not like that," Kirby explained.

"Prove it," said the rooster.

THE STORY LINE 105

' "Come clean," said an egg decorated with a bunny. "You're just using the holiday to go and find your family."

"That's how this all started," said Kirby. "Now I have an obligation to take over the Easter Bunny's rounds."

"Rounds, schmounds, as soon as you find your family, you're putting down the basket and begging for treats yourself."

"No, that won't happen!" Kirby insisted. "But don't come with me if that's what you think. There are other eggs who will come with me--aren't there?"

THE STORY LINE 104

' "Where are you going?" asked the eggs.

"Where am I going?!" Kirby cried. "I'm going all over to bring the message of Easter."

"We don't think so," said the eggs.

"What do you mean?"

THE STORY LINE 103

'Kirby tiptoed into the box carefully, as if walking on--well, eggshells. So many great eggs. "Who wants to come with me?' he asked.

THE STORY LINE 102

' "These eggs are extraordinary--too good for me to take from you," Kirby said to the Bunny.

"Nonsense," said the Bunny. "Eggs are meant to be shared. Have a look and take whichever ones you need."

THE STORY LINE 101

'Inside were the most wonderful eggs Kirby had ever seen, not just Easter Eggs, but Christmas Eggs, New Year's Eggs, Mid-Summer Eggs, too. Eggs even for Pagans and Druids, for Muslim and Jew.

THE STORY LINE 100

' "It smells like eggs," said Kirby. "Really good eggs. But it's not a basket."

"I told you I don't like to keep all my eggs in one basket--that means I also don't like to keep them all in baskets. Have a look inside."

THE STORY LINE 99

'Kirby entered the Bunny's house and saw a large box with festive decoration.
"What a pretty box," he said.

"Isn't it?' said the Bunny. "What do you think is inside?"