The air smelled like popcorn and cotton candy! Scarlett and Grandpa were at the playground. It was almost dark, and the streetlights buzzed as they flickered on, making spooky shadows. Scarlett pointed at the swings. "Up!" she said.
Grandpa lifted her onto a swing and gave her a gentle push. "Higher, Grandpa, higher!" Scarlett giggled. As she soared through the air, she noticed something strange. A little white rabbit sat on a bench, reading a book!
Scarlett hopped off the swing and toddled over to the bench. "Bunny reading?" she asked. The rabbit looked up, its nose twitching. It wore tiny spectacles on its furry face! The book was open to a page with a picture of a pirate ship.
"Ahoy there, matey!" a squeaky voice said. It was the rabbit! "This here be a tale about the high seas!" Scarlett gasped. She loved pirates, just like Grandpa! The rabbit hopped closer, its nose twitching. "Reading be a grand adventure, little one. It be like magic, taking ye to faraway lands."
Scarlett sat down next to the rabbit. She pointed at the picture of the pirate ship. "Ship?" she asked.
"Aye, a fine vessel," the rabbit said. "It be called the 'Sea Bunny,' and it be captained by the bravest pirate of all... Captain Whiskers!"
Scarlett giggled. Captain Whiskers! What a funny name!
Grandpa strolled over, his eyes wide with surprise. "Did that rabbit just talk?" he whispered.
Scarlett nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Bunny read!" She pointed at the book. "Pirates!"
Grandpa peered at the book. He smiled. "It seems like our furry friend enjoys a good pirate story." He winked at Scarlett. "Just like someone else we know."
The rabbit hopped onto the bench and pointed a paw at a picture of a treasure chest. "And this be where they kept the treasure, mountains of gold and sparkling jewels!"
"Wow!" Scarlett whispered, her eyes wide with wonder.
The rabbit closed the book and looked at Scarlett. "Reading can take you anywhere you want to go," it said. "It can teach you all sorts of things."
Suddenly, a gust of wind rustled the leaves in the trees. The playground lights flickered and dimmed. When the lights brightened again, the rabbit was gone!
"Where'd bunny go?" Scarlett asked, looking around.
Grandpa patted her head. "Maybe it was time for the little fellow to hop on home," he said.
Scarlett looked at the empty bench, then at the book lying there. She picked it up and hugged it tight. It smelled like old paper and adventures. She couldn't wait to learn how to read, just like the rabbit!
As Grandpa carried Scarlett home, she snuggled close, the book clutched in her arms. She knew one thing for sure - playgrounds held all sorts of surprises! And she couldn't wait to see what adventure awaited her next.
