One bright day in the middle of May, Brer Rabbit was feeling great. He hit the road, not knowing exactly where he was going. “Oh, I’m free as can be,” he said, “no one can change my mind today!” Brer Tarrypin, who was hiding under his vine, winked at Brer Rabbit and called out, “Where are you heading with your pipe and walking cane?”
Brer Rabbit waved his hand like a lady with a fan. “I’m so bored I could burst with pain,” he replied. “I’m way too nice, and I haven’t laughed much since the big January rain. If I don’t have some fun soon, folks will start calling me ‘Sunday-Jane!’ I’ll get all gloomy and sad if I don’t have a good time, and I might even lose my cheer!”
So off he went, quick on his feet, with a grin, a laugh, and a little cough. He told Miss Motts, Miss Meadows, and all the others about what was going to happen. It was going to be a big fishing trip at the mill pond, and everyone hoped the wind wouldn’t blow from the north. All the animals—big and small, tall and short—agreed to come. Brer Wolf and Brer Bear said they’d be there and promised to bring a net. They all agreed on the day, and Brer Rabbit said they didn’t have to come if it rained.
When the day finally came, the big road and the lane were filled with a crowd, all talking loudly and having fun. Brer Rabbit was there with Miss Molly Hare, waiting for the fun to start. He pretended he was going to jump into the pond, but then something made him stop and drop his jaw.
He called out to Brer Coon, “Come quick and see the Moon! She’s floating in the pond without a fin!” Brer Rabbit looked again and said, “She really fell in, and we’ve got to get her out! If she stays in the pond, we’re in trouble for sure.”
“We need light to play at night and see where we’re going,” he added. “We’ll drag the pond with the net—if we don’t fail, we’ll have something to cheer about!” But when it came to dragging the pond, some of the animals started complaining about who would do the work. They all acted like they wanted to help, but it ended up being the taller animals who had to do it.
Brer Bear laughed as he grabbed a stick, and Brer Wolf said he was afraid he’d fall, but he took his place anyway with a grumpy face. When they started to haul the net, Brer Wolf grumbled, “Oh, you better believe this water’s cold! I feel like a sponge!”
Then, with a big splash and a lot of squealing, they all tried to grab the Moon in the water, which they shouldn’t have done. The water went over their heads with a huge splash, and Brer Rabbit bent over laughing. “Oh, all your trouble just fills me with fun-unj-unj!” he giggled.
