Miko’s Little Hops

In a quiet meadow lived a little rabbit named Miko. His paws were small, and his hop was light and bouncy. Miko loved running with his older sister, Aya. Every morning, Aya zoomed ahead with big, fast hops. Her feet went thump, thump on the grass. Miko tried his best to keep up. He wiggled his ears. He scrunched his nose. He took a big breath.

"Okay, hop, hop, hop!" Miko said.

He hopped as fast as he could, but Aya was already far ahead.

"Why can she go so fast? Why can't I?" Miko said.

Miko stopped beside a tall dandelion. His tummy felt heavy, the way it did when he felt left behind.

"Why am I so slow?" Miko curled his paws close and made a tiny, sad wiggle. Just then, a warm, steady voice drifted toward him. It was Baron, an older rabbit with gentle eyes," Miko said.

"Hello there, Miko. Why the droopy ears?" " Aya is so fast, and I can't keep up. I feel like I'll never be as fast as her."

"You will one day. Bodies grow at different times." "Different times?" "Your legs are still growing their bones and muscles. Aya's legs have had more time," Bramble said.

"But I feel so far behind." "You're not behind," Miko said.

"You're growing in little ways all the time. It's hard to notice, but it's happening," Bramble said.

Miko tilted his head. "Like my bones and muscles are growing right now?" "Every hop you try, every wiggle, every breath, they all help you grow." Baron sat beside him. "Want to hop together? Slow is just fine." "Slow, with you?" "Slow with me." They took one small hop, then another. Miko's paws felt steadier beside Baron's. "My hops are getting bigger!" "See? You get better with every try. You grow bigger with every hop." Miko's ears perked up. He felt a warm glow inside his chest. "I don't feel so behind anymore." And as Miko hopped slowly across the meadow, he felt calm, steady, and just right.