The Sunday morning breeze had brought the news; Grandma Rabbit was baking pies. Romper Rabbit hid in the thick bushes under Grandma Rabbit's kitchen window.

Grandma had gone early that morning to pick fresh, ripe blackberries while dew still clung to them. That was one of the secrets to her delicious pies.

Grandma was famous for her delicious blackberry pies and Romper was known for stealing them. This morning, however, Grandma was waiting for him. She had a most clever plan all cooked up.

Romper had a very clever plan too. He figured he was about the smartest little rabbit there ever was and Grandma, well, she was kind of a dumb-bunny. She always left those beautiful, mouth watering pies to cool on her window sill, right in plain sight where it was easy to snatch one and run away anytime he wanted. Romper was quick and sly and stealing Grandma's pies had become a game. He thought it was fun, but he had never stopped to consider what might happen if he were caught.

Grandma Rabbit was not exactly the dumb-bunny that Romper thought she was. She had figured Romper would try to sneak another pie this morning so she invited her grandsons over, then got her friend, Serena Sparrow, to help on a special job that only Serena could do.

Grandma Rabbit bustled about in her tiny kitchen until the timer signaled another pie was done. Humming under her breath she carried the pie to the window.

Romper perked his big, white ears up at the timer bell and held his breath. He heard the oven door creak open. Romper tested the slack in a string he was holding. It was attached to a large bucket filled with empty tin cans he had hidden in a tree on Grandma's patio. His plan was to pull the string at exactly the right moment which would tip the bucket and spill the cans onto Grandma's concrete patio causing a noisy commotion. When Grandma went to investigate he would snatch one of the pies and make his get away.

Romper watched for the pie to appear on the window sill. His mouth watered as he smelled the aroma wafting out the window. He chuckled to himself, feeling very smug, and tightened his grip on the little white string.

Serena Sparrow was hidden behind a large leaf in the tree above Grandma's kitchen window. She too had a little white string. She drew it up tight. Romper couldn't see her, but she could see him so when Romper made his move she was ready to pull her string and spring the trap on the unsuspecting bunny. Serena Sparrow chuckled to herself and braced her leg against a handy twig ready to give a mighty yank.

Romper quietly let his breath out, then breathed in again. Gathering one foot under him, he knelt. His left knee under his chin, right knee down ready to spring. He shifted the string to his left paw making certain it stayed taut and fixed his gaze on the window sill. Romper was ready to spring into action.

The pie appeared on the sill. Romper let his breath out slowly. Then he yanked the little white string.

The tin cans spilled onto the patio with a tremendous clatter. Grandma winked and smiled at her grandsons then threw her paws up into the air, and yelled so Romper could hear, 'Oh my! What could that awful noise be?'� They ran to the patio.

Romper sprang from the bushes and leaped to the window. He reached up and grabbed that beautiful plump pie from the sill. He felt something warm and sticky on his feet. His feet!

Serena Sparrow had yanked her string which was attached to another bucket under the kitchen window. Romper hadn't seen the little white pail. It was filled with the stickiest, quickest-setting glue there was. The sticky stuff spilled all over Romper's feet, dried immediately, and trapped the surprised rabbit right where he stood.

Romper turned to run. He couldn't move! He pulled one foot then the other. They wouldn't budge an inch. He grabbed a leg with both paws and heaved and pulled. His brows knotted together with the strain. Beads of sweat popped out on his forehead. Frantically he twisted and pulled, again and again, but he was trapped.

The boys ran around the house with Grandma close behind. They laughed and laughed at the sight. Serena Sparrow, giggling like some foolish little wren, almost fell out of her tree. Romper pointed at the window. 'The pie almost fell off the sill.'� He stammered, 'I was just passing by and I saw it was about to fall so I grabbed it.'� His face was as red as Grandma's apron.

'Don't lie to me, Romper Rabbit.'� Grandma said, 'I know better than that. You were trying to steal my pie.'� She held up her paw and wagged it at Romper. 'Now you're a clever little rabbit and you're pretty good at stealing my pies, but I'm just as clever as you and now I've caught you.'� She folded her arms across her bosom and glared at Romper. 'Thieves always get caught and they have to suffer the consequences. Now I can do several things, Romper Rabbit. I can call the Constable and have you thrown in jail, in which case everybody will find out you're a thief. Nobody will want you around and nobody will ever trust you again.'� Grandma looked deep into Romper's eyes. Or I can leave you stuck in the glue until some kind soul comes along and frees you. But then nobody wants a thief on the loose so you may be stuck here for the rest of your life.'�

Romper's eyes grew as big as a pie plate and he began to shake. He hadn't bargained for this. He hung his head trying to avoid Grandma's flashing eyes.

She cupped his chin in her paw and lifted his head. She heaved a sigh and said, 'Don't you realize how terrible it makes people feel when you steal from them? How would you feel if somebody stole your favorite toy?'�

Tears began to roll down Romper's fuzzy cheeks. 'Oh Grandma, please forgive me,'� He begged.
'I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just having fun.'�

Grandma put a paw on Romper's shoulder. 'You've done a very serious thing in the name of fun, Romper, you've hurt my feelings and made me feel very, very sad.'�

Romper sobbed and wiped his eyes with both paws.

'But I believe you've learned a lesson,'� Grandma continued. 'So I'll let you go if you will make me a promise. Whenever I want them, you will pick all the blackberries I need. Will you do that?'�

Romper nodded his head immediately.

So Grandma let him go. He kept his promise to Grandma; he never stole again, and Romper Rabbit grew up to become the Mayor of their little town.

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