Dat talk wid Uncle Remus musta been 'xactly what Papa needed 'cause he was much happier afta dat. Even by de way he took me 'ome, I could tell dere was somethin' different 'bout 'im. When Papa decided dat it was time t' go home, he took me in 'is paws 'n' rose me real high in de air. He gave me lots a kisses 'n' offered t' carry me all de way 'ome so's I could sleep. I'd gotten real tired by dat point,so I wrapped my arms real tightly around 'im 'n' put my lil ol' head on his chest. "You go on 'head 'n' sleep now. We had a long day, yes we did," was de last thang I heard befo' I drifted off.
In de weeks followin' our visit, Papa kept actin' all happy. On most mo'nin's, he'd wake me up wid a nice lil kiss on my forehead. We were readin' mo' often, started dancin' wid each otha, 'n' he even built me a swing on a tree right by our cave. I started askin' mo' questions 'n' gettin' real grabby. He'd often tell what I can 'n' can't touch. He was also gettin' real worried 'bout me lately. Papa says dat I was a lil smaller dan de average kit, even when I was bawn I was mighty lil. He kept gettin' concerned 'bout me. He was makin' sho' I ate good 'n' got active every day all de time. Whenever I'd reach fo' stuff, from soft things like Foxy or Farrah to tough stuff like 'is axe, he'd either get real mad or worried. Maybe he thought I was sick or somethin'.
Three weeks or so afta my fourth birthday. Papa was in my room one mo'nin lookin' fo' a dress fo' me t' wear. He pulled out one a my real pretty ones, a blue one wid mid length sleeves 'n' lace. "Papa, we goin' to a party?" "No, honey, we's goin' out on a nice walk through de forest!" I jumped up in mighty surprise. "We's goin' a real walk?!" "Yes, ma'am, we sho' is! Here, lemme help ya put dis on!" "What if de otha critters start gossipin' agin?" "Ignore dem, angel. We's a happy lil family. I picked you out a nice dress t' wear. Dem critters gotta see how nice you really is. What d'you think?" "Well...I don' like gossipin...but OK, Papa..." Papa kissed me on de head. "Dat's my girl!"
I jumped outta bed 'n' tried t' pull off my nightgown as fast I could. Papa helped, and den helped me so'mo' by gettin' de dress on me. I was all jumpy de entire time, even durin' breakfast. Papa saw me tryin' to climb onto one of de grown-up chairs he gotta use, so he took me in 'is paws and sat me on de seat. He constantly reminded me t' slow down. "T'ain't no race!" he'd say. I couldn't help it! I's so excited t' go outside, but not just any outside, but way out into Briar Country.
Papa 'n' I walked down our usual path down de road. Lots a critters were out 'n' about dat day 'n' I waved t' ev'ry one a dem. Papa usually kept lookin' at me all proud-like as I waved, not really payin' any mind to de critters. Some a de critters were whisperin' 'bout us agin.
"Here comes de Fox Family." "Haven't seen dem about lately." "De child sho' looks nice t'day. What's de occasion, I wonder." Papa reminded me t' ignore dem. We stopped under a shady ol' tree. Papa 'n' I talked 'n' talked like we always did.
"Now, Lisa, you 'member dat nice visit we had to Uncle Remus's cabin?"
"Yes, Papa."
"Well, Lisa, I think dat you 'n' I's gonna get back t' rabbit huntin'."
"We is?"
"Yes, darlin', we sholy is. T'morrow, we's gettin' up bright 'n' early, 'n' we's gonna 'ave a mighty good rabbit stew. You gonna love it!"
"What 'bout last time?"
"Lisa, love, dat's in de past...we don' have t' worry 'bout it no mo'. I assure you we'll ketch 'im sho'."
"What if we don' ketch 'im?"
"Don't think dat way, honey. We'll get 'im fo' sho' t'morrow. I's already thinkin' 'bout what we gonna do, 'n' I want you dere wid me so's you can learn." Papa had a real nice understandin' smile. I still kinda wanna talk t' Brer Rabbit 'n' hear mo' 'bout Laughin' Places. Part a me even wanna be 'is friend, but I's sorry.
I like Brer Rabbit, but I love Papa.
Papa let me run around de shady tree 'n' pull on de grass. He must've really wanted me to, 'cause I got real tired after a lil while. He took me home 'round sunset time 'n' usually, I'd have my dinner first and den bathe, but Papa insisted dat we bathe first, put on my nightgown and den we could eat right after. Bath time was a real interestin' time. As Papa was rollin' up 'is sleeves, gettin' de soap, 'n' startin' t' scrub me, I asked a question dat I been meanin' t' ask fo' awhile. "Papa...what's 'zip-a-dee-doo-dah'?" "What?" "What's 'zip-a-dee-doo-dah'? I heard Brer Rabbit 'n' lots a otha critters say it. 'Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay, my, oh my, what a wonderful day'! What's dose words mean?"
"Lisa, darlin', that's an ol' sayin' we gots here in Briar Country. I never told you dat?" "No sir." "Oh, I's sorry, child. 'Zip-a-dee-doo-dah' is somethin' we say on a kind of day when you can't open yo' mouth widout a song jumpin' right of it. You know dose real purty days when de sun is out, de birds are singin', 'n' we'd go out on one a our walks?" "Uh-huh." "Dat's a 'Zip-a-dee-doo-dah day." "So 'zip-a-dee-doo-dah's' a good thang?" "A real good thang." "Papa...what we gonna do 'bout Brer Rabbit?" Papa got real 'cited when I talked 'bout 'im.
"Oh, honey, don' you 'member what I said. We's gonna ketch 'im 'n' bring 'im home wid us."
"But, Papa, how we gonna do dat?" He took my paws.
"Lisa, we gonna bring my net, my axe, 'n' lots a rope."
"How come I don' get t' use de axe?"
"Honey, we been ova dis. You too young to use it. It's too heavy, too sharp, no darlin', it's too dangerous."
"But, I-"
"But you, nothin'. When you grown up, I can show you how t' use it." Papa rinsed me, helped me out of de tub, 'n' wrapped me in a towel. He let me choose a nightgown to wear. Papa musta wanted me to go to bed real early, 'cause the dinner he made was real quick. Papa almost pushed me t' de sink so's I could wash my dish. He wasted no time walkin' me t' bed t' tuck me in. "Why you movin' so fast, Papa?" "We gots to get a good night's sleep, love. Now, you go on t' sleep now. We got a looong day ahead. Now, sweet dreams, my love." He kissed me, blew out de candle, 'n' wasted no time leavin'. I wanted t' talk t' 'im mo', so's I got outta bed I saw Papa washin' 'imself in our washtub. I got all surprised when I saw 'im strokin' 'is arms 'n' chest wid soap. I'd never seen 'im widout clothes on befo', so's I walked outside 'n' waited fo' 'im to be done. I looked at de big dark sky 'n' started thinkin'...'bout Papa, 'n' Brer Rabbit, Uncle Remus, Brer Frog...I musta been thinkin' too hard 'cause I di'nt see me walkin' toward Papa's axe stuck inside de tree stump dat sat right by our cave. I stopped 'n' looked at de axe. I'd seen my Papa use it lots a times befo'. I seen 'im cut wood, rope, 'n' de necks a dose dumb birds we'd grab on Coop Day. I got real curious 'n' touched the smooth, wooden end of it 'n' sneezed. I wrinkled my nose and started really lookin' at de sharp metal end of it. I really wanted t' use it but Papa just won't let-
"LISA FOX!"
Papa musta heard my sneeze 'cause he came out in 'is night shirt 'n' pants, 'n' tightly grabbed my wrist. He drug me back inside 'n' started shakin' me.
"What'd I jess tell you?! I said you can't touch my axe. I leave you fo' five minutes 'n' I see you 'bout t' cut yo'self!"
"I wasn't gonna touch de sharp part!"
Papa was so mad, he spanked me. He di'nt spank me unless I did somethin' real bad. "YOU NEVER GONNA TOUCH IT AGIN! EVER!"
"I's sorry..."
"WHY CAN'T YOU BE A LIL SMARTER, YOU GOOD FO' NOTHIN' RUNT?!"
"But Papa-"
"'BUT PAPA, NOTHIN'. I DONE TOLD YA AGIN 'N' AGIN YOU COU'NT TOUCH IT 'N' DEN YOU GO 'N' DISOBEY ME!"
"Papa, I's sorry. I just forgot."
"YOU FORGOT?! I BEEN TELLIN' YOU ALL YO' LIFE! HOW CAN YOU JUST FOGIT?!"
"I'll do betta next time..."
"NOT ANOTHA WORD OUTTA YOU! DERE AIN'T GONNA BE A NEXT TIME!"
I stopped tryin' t' protest. What do you mean "dere ain't gonna be a next time?" "
"YOU'D BETTA BE SMARTER IN DE MO'NIN' OR I'LL..." Papa held out 'is paws as if he were gonna grab me, but he di'nt do nothin'. He let out an aggravated growl 'n' left me dere and the last thang I heard 'im say was "...good for nothin' lil...what a poor excuse..."
Papa di'nt tuck me back in. He jess slammed my door shut. I sat on my bed 'n' started cryin' mo' dan I'd ever done in my whole life.
Papa do'nt think I'm smart...
...dere ain't gonna be a next time...
...'cause he don' love me no mo'...
I got off my bed, packed a lil bag wid Foxy 'n' Farrah inside, waited fo' Papa t' stop walkin' 'round, 'n' I 'scaped. I jess ran as fast as I could. If Papa di'nt 'ppreciated me, I'd find someone who did. I cried all de way down de road.
I started walkin' after 'while 'n' I jess cou'nt stop cryin'. Even as de sun came up, I di'nt wanna stop goin'. When de sun was out, I stopped 'n' sat on a lonely log way out in Briar Country. I thought 'bout Papa alot. I wanted t' go back but...Papa don' wanna dumb girl. I just sat 'n' sat...'n' sat. I was dere until I fin'lly heard some whistlin'. I turned and who should it be, but Brer Rabbit hoppin' down de road. I kinda di'nt wanna talk so's I kept lookin' down at my feet.
"Bless my soul! If it ain't my good friend, Lisa!" he cried. I was too mopey to say anythin'. He sat right next t' me.
"What's dis? Why so glum?" he said. His face softened when he saw me really cryin'.
"What's wrong?" he whispered. He saw my face all wet.
"Brer Rabbit...Papa got mad at me...he said I don' learn nothin'...and dat...I's too little t' do anythin'...he don't love me no mo'."
Brer Rabbit put a paw on me.
"I's sure he di'nt mean it."
"Papa's super smart, Brer Rabbit. He always right."
"Well, I don' know 'bout dat, but I know 'e love you mighty badly."
"I don' know...I gotta get away. I'm nothin' but trouble t' 'im, so's I'm leavin'. Papa don' need me. I'll go somewhere far, far away; maybe up north. Papa says de north gets to see all four seasons, so I's headin' up dere 'n' startin' a life outdoors. I'll getta see t'all. I ain't neva comin' back neither!"
I was 'bout to leave but Brer Rabbit got in front a me.
"Y'know I once somethin' ver' similar 'bout my Briar Patch. I thought it was giving me trouble, so I was gonna leave. I 'member it like it was yesterday. I told Uncle Remus dat I was leavin' fo' good t' get away from trouble, but Uncle Remus said dat dere was no place dat far. I di'nt listen, so I left."
"What 'appened afta you left?"
"I got caught in one of yo' daddy's rabbit traps, 'n' I tried t' get Brer Bear t' take my place in it by tellin' dat I was bein' paid a dollar a minute jess t' hang in de trap. Brer Bear got real mad when yo' Pa told 'im dat I tricked 'im good. Dey were both 'bout t' ketch me, so I ran as fast I could back 'ome. Leavin' my first troubles threw me int' even mo' trouble with dose two."
"You left 'ome, and den my Papa got you?"
"Fo' a lil while...but dat's not de point, child. You can't run away from trouble. Dere ain't no place dat far. At least dat's what Uncle Remus said, and he was right. You understand what I's sayin' t' ya? Go home 'n' talk t' Brer Fox."
"But he might yell at me agin."
"Betta dan makin' 'im worry 'bout you. I'll even walk you ova dere."
"But Papa will ketch you de moment he sees ya. I know he will."
"I's a fast critter, Lisa. I can manage."
Brer Rabbit took my paw and we started down de path home. We mostly jess followed de river route. I kept starin' at de river as I walked right next to it. Brer Rabbit walked right next to me. I was a lil shorter dan 'im, so I kept havin' t' tilt my head a lil bit t' talk t' 'im.
"So why did 'e yell at you anyways?"
"I touched 'is axe." Brer Rabbit shuddered.
"He don' want you touchin' it?"
"No. He told me dat 'e was gonna use it t' ketch you, 'n' I asked 'im if I could use it. He says I's too lil t' touch it. I wanted t' talk to 'im mo' last night, but I saw 'im bathin', so I went outside 'n' waited and dere was de axe sittin' in de stump. I touched de wooden 'andle and even de blade, Papa saw it, 'n' drug me inside 'n'...spanked me." I got all teary eyed agin.
"So, yo' daddy brought it up in a 'convosation', 'n' you jess had t' touch it?"
"...yeah..." I covered my head in my paws.
"Lisa, he was probably jess scared dat you were gonna cut yo'self."
"Maybe...but he never spanks me...not unless I did somethin' real bad...Papa don' get mad often...do I have t' go 'ome? Please, Brer Rabbit..."
"A few year ago, I probably woulda join ya, but naw...we almost t' Chick-A-Pin Hill alrea-"
I would've let 'im finish, 'cept fo' de fact dat I tripped, 'n' slipped, 'n' took a nasty fall into de river. De river in Briar Country has a mighty strong current and it swept me away somethin' awful! Brer Rabbit came runnin' as fast as he could.
"Brer Rabbit!"
"Hold on, Lisa, I's comin'!"
If I were a lil stronger, I would've been able t' reach fo' de dry land, but our river can be real mean sometimes. Brer Rabbit stopped in held out 'is paw fo' me a lil ways down de road.
"Grab my paw, Lisa!" I reached out as far as I could, but when Brer Rabbit took my paw, he reached out too far and sho' 'nough he fell into de river 'imself. I kept my paw clenched ont' 'im tightly. Now me, I was scared, but not Brer Rabbit. Brer Rabbit was hysterical.
"HELP! HELP US! SOMEBODY! ANYBODY!"
"PAPA! PAPA!"
Our cries weren't doin' nothin'! All we could do is keep cryin' out fo' help. Brer Rabbit looked at me while we still 'eld each othas paws. I just cou'nt stop cryin' neither!
"Lisa, Lisa, look at me! We gon' be ok! How we doin'? We-we fine! How we come on?"
"P-pretty good sure as you bawn?"
"We sho' is! Jess keep holdin' ont' my paw. Someone'll come." I hugged Brer Rabbit real tightly, dough I cou'nt imagine why no one was 'round. It was de late mo'nin' afta all. But I wasn't thinkin' dat right den. I was thinkin' of Papa. I really wanted 'im right den 'n' dere.
Me 'n' Brer Rabbit looked a lil ways down de river and, boy, did we get scared! Dere was nothin' up ahead...we was about t' go ova de edge. I held Brer Rabbit even closa dan befo'. Brer Rabbit looked a lil stunned, but he held me too. Dis was it...
...Brer Rabbit 'n' I went ova de side. De way down wasn't too bad, really. It was small and we di'nt get hurt nothin'. De current was still strong dough and dere was really nothin' we could do but hold on and keep cryin' fo' help. At least dat's what I thought. Brer Rabbit actually started laughin' instead.
"Lisa, heh, heh, we, we thought we was goners, but t'was jess a lil one! Ain't dat funny?"
"...No...Brer Rabbit, I wish Papa was here."
"Someone'll come. We gots to try 'n' get t' de shore."
"I tried dat! De river's too strong. I really can't do nothin'."
"Yes, you can! You know, when I's real sad or scared. I think 'bout my laughin' place. Everybody's gotta one. As soon as we get you home, we can go find one togetha!" I looked at 'im 'n' I believed 'im real strong-like.
And then, as if God had been hearin' us de whole time, dere came Uncle Remus walkin' down de road.
"UNCLE REMUS, UNCLE REMUS!" we both cried. He looked right over at our direction 'n' ran t' catch wid us as we were pulled away.
"Brer Rabbit! Lisa! What you doin' in de river?!"
"We slipped 'n' fell! Hand us somethin' t' grab!" Brer Rabbit cried. Uncle Remus thought real fast. Fo' a normal, older people, he sho' acted fast too. He grabbed on t' a nearby branch and reached out fo' us.
"You go first!" "I'm scared! I'll get swept away fo' sho'!"
"OK, OK, umm...let's jess reach fo' it togetha! Is that a'ight wid you?"
"I-I guess so..."
Me 'n' Brer Rabbit reached fo' dear life 'n' only managed to grab a leaf befo' snappin' off 'n' sendin' us off agin. I was neva gonna get home. De river was startin' t' get real mean now 'cause we cou'nt even stay over de water. De last thing I saw before goin' under was an orange, green, 'n' white blur. Hopin' dat it was Papa, I held out my paw ova de surface, thinkin' dat de blur would see it. As a looked at de underwater world, I could see a big bad dark circle comin' toward me. I closed my eyes in fright jess as I feel a paw pull me back up. Brer Rabbit had found a log t' sit on as we were forced int' de black circle, a cave actually. A large one dat I wish was my Papa's. Brer Rabbit started pullin' me ont' de log. I saw dat 'e found a thick stick to steer de log wid.
"We'll be a'ight. Here, get behind me 'n' I'll steer us real good." I let Brer Rabbit take me down de cave as 'e drove us 'round. I looked all 'round de cave. Brer Rabbit started singin'. He'd look back at me wid an understandin' smile 'n' put a paw on my shoulder. "Everybody's gotta Laughin' Place, a Laughin' Place to go-ho-ho! Take a frown, turn it upside down and you'll find yours I know-ho-ho! Honey 'n' rainbows on our way, we laugh because our work is play! Boy are we in luck! We're visiting de Laughin' Place. Yuk, yuk, yuk!" He got me t' sing wid 'im fo' awhile.
Hate t' say it, but dem stalagmites and stalactites looked like dey could fall on us any moment, but dey weren't what I was de most worried about. T'were de critters we met in dem caves. I saw two big ol' vultures starin' down at us. I almost di'nt wanna look at 'em. Dey were dressed in black 'n' were givin' me real scary looks.
"Look, brother, if it ain't Brer Rabbit 'n' de lil Sis Fox."
"Oh, I knows it. Everyone's gotta a Laughin' Place."
"Maybe this one is yours."
"Time to be turnin' round."
"If only you could."
"If you finally found your Laughin' Place, how come you ain't laughin'?"
"So you're lookin' fo' a Laughin' Place, eh?"
"...we'll show you a Laughin' Place..."
Befo' Brer 'n' myself could do nothin' else, we could feel our log tip over de side. We both looked down...'n'...saw nothin' but down...waaayyy down. We fell 'n' we fell hard, all de way down a five story waterfall. We fell off our log on de way down 'n' I could feel some sharp branches cut my upper left leg. If dis waterfall weren't so tall 'n' "branchy", dis would've been kinda fun, but de waterfall was jess too big 'n' I kept gettin' scratched real bad. Hittin' de water felt like one of Papa's spankin's. I sunk all de way down to de bottom of de river. I cou'nt swim t' save my life, but Brer Rabbit wasted no time pullin' me back up to surface in pushin' me to shore. De river's current was nice 'n' gentle afta dat waterfall as it's always been. Brer Rabbit pushed me until my feet could touch de river's flo'. I was so worn out dat I let myself fall on de dry land. No one really knew how happy I was t' see it agin. Brer Rabbit sat down wid me and cou'nt help but laugh.
"Ain't it nice t' see dis part a de land agin?"
I wanted t' say somethin', but before I could, a large net had suddenly appeared over my new friend. I recognized dat net ver' well. My green, red, 'n' white Papa was de blur I saw from befo' 'n' he had brought wid 'im 'is net 'n' had my bag wid Foxy 'n' Farrah at 'is side.
"Well, den, Brer Rabbit, I hope you 'ad yo' lil fun, but I's not about t' let you git away from me afta all dat." I jumped up real quick-like 'n' wrapped my arms 'round my rabbit friend.
"No, Papa, no..." I moaned. I got so sad, I started cryin' agin.
"Step aside, Lisa."
"Brother Fox!" We all turned 'n' saw Uncle Remus comin' our way. "Stop dis now! I saw de whole thang, Brer Rabbit saved 'er life!" Papa looked at 'im, 'n' den looked back us. I held Brer Rabbit real tightly. 'Specially afta I saw it agin. De mean look in 'is eyes, him bearin' up 'is sharp teeth. Dere he was agin...
...Nightmare Papa...
"You tricky ol' rabbit. You know how harsh dat no good river is. You probably pushed 'er in."
"I fell in, Papa." Papa yanked me away from Brer Rabbit.
"You stay outta dis! I'll deal wid you lata! Di'nt I done told ya t' never leave 'ome widout me sayin' so?"
"He really did save my life, Papa. He told me t' go home, but I di'n't want to. But I fell in 'n' I woulda drowned widout 'im. Uncle Remus tried t' 'elp to, but I wasn't strong 'nough." I jumped in front a Papa 'n' held out my arms. "You right, Papa. I really is a good fo' nothin' runt!" I clutched onto Papa's legs 'n' looked up at 'im all determined.
"But don' eat Brer Rabbit please! He been nothin' but good t' me. I won' let you eat 'im! IF YOU EAT 'IM, I'LL HATE YOU FOREVA!" My tears are mean lil things. Dey don' stop fallin' once I start. I cou'nt believe what I jess said 'n' Papa cou'nt neither 'cause he mo' stunned dan me. I di'nt wanna care. I di'nt wanna care dat I was standin' in a wet nightgown, wid a bad cut on my upper left leg, standin' up t' my Papa. But I did. Lookin' at 'im made me fall on my knees 'n' clutch 'is legs even tighter dan befo'. "No, Papa, NOOOO!" I cried 'n' begged so pitifully, I felt like we were de only two critters 'round.
T'was quiet fo' awhile. Papa looked at de blood trail runnin' down my left leg 'n' sighed.
"Well, now, Brer Rabbit, it seems my own flesh 'n' blood has turned 'gainst me...all 'cause you were good to her," my Papa said. Papa released my friend from de net 'n' took me in 'is arms.
"Lisa, we goin' home now...Brer Rabbit goin' home too...you'd betta run back t' your Briar Patch...befo' I change my mind."