When we got out of the car, Hare-iette said. "It's so warm out today. Is it OK if I walk over to the library while you do your errands?"
"OK, Hare-iette, I'll pick you up there in about an hour."

Hare-iette went happily on her way, trying to decide what kind of book she wanted to take out this time. Shortly after she had turned on to Second Street, she felt something hit her shoulder. As she turned to see what it was, something hit her on her ear. On the side of the house she was passing, sat a girl, who was taking aim to throw another pebble at her.
"What are you doing?" Hare-iette shouted.
"Throwing stones at you. Get out of here, you freak!"

Hare-iette was amazed but not afraid. She moved closer to the girl. Hare-iette took the girl to be about 10 years old. She might have been pretty if she didn't have such a mean look on her face.
"Why are you being mean to me? You don't even know me."
"Because you are a freak! You look like a rabbit but you act like a person."
"I'm a hare, not a rabbit. I was born this way and there is nothing I can do about it. I'm perfectly happy as I am. And I'm not going away just because you call me names."
Hare-iette moved closer to the steps where the girl was sitting. The girl had dropped the stone she was going to throw. Hare-iette sat on the steps, near the girl, but not too close.
"My name is Hare-iette, what's yours?"
"I'm not telling you".
"Oh for Pete's sake, what is wrong with you?"
"There's nothing wrong with me!" the girl snapped.
"Mom told me that when someone is mean, it may be because they are hurting inside."
"That's stupid."
Hare-iette didn't respond. She and the girl sat on the steps trying not to look at each other.

Finally Hare-iette said, "You know, I could use a friend. How about you?"
"I don't need no friends," the girl snarled.

After a few minutes Hare-iette got up and started to walk away. This wasn't getting her anywhere. She might as well go on the the library. Then, as she reached the sidewalk, she turned and said, "I've got enough money to buy a candy bar. If you come with me to the store, I'll share it with you."
The girl got up and walked over to Hare-iette. "It's working,"Hare-iette thought."

But then the girl grabbed her arm and demanded, "Give me your money!!"
Hare-iette was amazed and a little scared. She said, "Why should I give you my money?"
"Because I'm bigger than you and I can take it from you."
Hare-iette suddenly realized she had run into a real bully and she was afraid.