Hutch O’Hare was a chocolate Easter bunny but there was nothing hollow about him. He longed to hop across a dewy meadow chasing butterflies like any ordinary rabbit. But first he had to get out of the carton he’d been trapped in for so long he couldn’t remember ever being anywhere else. That all changed when a child tore open the plastic wrapper which was Hutch’s window to the world. Hutch could barely contain his excitement as his nostrils flared, sniffing the first fresh air since that day long ago when he was sealed at the confectionary factory. It tickled when the child poked at his tummy but Hutch fought back the laughter that would have made the child know it was a real rabbit The Easter Bunny had brought him and not just three and seven eighths ounces of candy.

The child’s mother called them to breakfast so they set down their Easter basket and hurried out of the bedroom. The instant they were gone Hutch hopped out of the carton he’d called home. All that standing at attention had made his legs more than a little wobbly and instead of landing on his paws Hutch somersaulted headfirst into the lawn of cushiony plastic grass. As his ears took a moment to regain their shape Hutch heard a mysterious sound coming from somewhere within the basket.

As Hutch searched for what was making the noise he hopped over an assortment of jelly beans and speckled egg shaped malt balls. Before long Hutch discovered the sound he’d heard was the peeping of a family of five yellow marshmallow chicks. Their voices were muffled by the clear cellophane wrapping which was keeping them cooped up in a cardboard carton. Though the chicklets’ beaks were plenty sharp they were unable to peck their way to freedom. “Stand back!” shouted Hutch. The chicks did as he instructed and huddled together against the back wall of their container. The chicks then watched in amazement as Hutch tore through the plastic wrap in no time thanks to his razor sharp teeth. Free at last the chicks raced each other out of their carton to see who could be the first to thank Hutch for what he had just done for them but it was a tie as they had been trapped in the box so long they forgot they were all joined together at the hip. “Thank you!” they all squawked in unison. “Shhhhhhh,” shushed Hutch who then whispered, “Keep your voices down or they’ll hear us.” “Who?” asked the chick on the far right. Hutch answered, “The child this Easter basket belongs to.” The chicks all nodded in unison.

“My name is Hutch, Hutch O’Hare.” proudly boasted the chocolate bunny. “We know.” replied the chick in the middle. “How?” asked Hutch. Pointing the tip of their wing at the abandoned carton on the opposite side of the basket the chick on the far left answered, “It’s printed in big letters on the front of your house.” “By the way, what are your names?” asked Hutch. “My name is Nugget!” chirped the chick on the far right. “I’m Penelopeep!” chirped the chick to Nugget’s left. “Call me Coop!” chirped the chick to Penelopeep’s left. “My name is Henrietta!” chirped the chick to Coop’s left. “And I’m Pipsqueak!” chirped the chick to Henrietta’s left.

The chicks looked so identical Hutch knew he’d have trouble remembering which was which and no sooner had the chicklets finished introducing themselves then the child returned, their fingertips stained the colors of a rainbow as they’d just finished dying Easter eggs. Startled, the chicks closed their eyes in fear unable to watch as the child’s sticky hand reached down into the Easter basket, grabbed hold of Hutch and hoisted him out of their view.