Hazel the Rabbit came into my life in August of 1987 from a pet store in a shopping mall. I describe him as "paper bag brown" with a white tummy and tail, and white-ringed eyes. I named him Hazel because he is sort of that color, because "Hazel" sounds like the German word for hare, Hase (I was taking German classes at the time), and because Hazel was the name of the main rabbit character in Watership Down, who was also male. (A couple of years later I learned that Hazel is also my grandmother's real first name, but we don't talk too much about that.)

He was a Tiny Bunny, only seven weeks old, when he came home. His ears were disproportionately large with a curiosity to match. I often find myself with a helper as I do household chores. Hazel has no fear of new places, and every corner is place for him to stick his nose in. He loves to get into things, and height is no object, as he is an Accomplished Jumper.

Hazel is now a Large Adult Rabbit, weighing in at about seven or eight pounds. He eats a measured diet of commercial rabbit pellets, supplemented by fresh fruits and vegetables. He like to travel with his treats -- he'll come to the kitchen to pick up a leaf of lettuce and promptly run off with it to His Corner behind the rocking chair. It's humorous to watch him because the size of the lettuce leaf forces him to take deliberately high hops to avoid stepping on it. Another game we play is Chase the Grape -- if I toss a grape onto the floor, Hazel chases it down with lightning speed.

Hazel enjoys the Great Outdoors, but since we live in an apartment he doesn't actually get to go outside. He contents himself with sitting in the window. Our visit to Grandma's house was a novelty because he got to explore her Big Back Yard and play in the ground cover.

Contrary to what a lot of people believe, rabbits do have distinct personalities and moods, and Hazel is no exception. He knows the things he's not supposed to do, and if I catch him in the act, he'll make Guilty Ears -- ears straight up and forward. His Is-Mom-Looking expression is similar, except that the ears are accompanied by a sideways glance and a slight cocking of the head. When Hazel is in a really good mood or when the weather is extremely humid (I've noticed that this makes him friskier), he'll do his Froelich Bunny Routine -- a period of scampering around with 180-degree turns while jumping straight up in the air, and other sudden changes in direction at top speed. Hazel also falls soundly asleep sometimes. He flops out and then nods off, tipping more and more over until he looks dead. These naps have occurred less frequently, though, since Dhia the Cat came home.

Hazel had met adult cats before, and he usually intimidated them because they had never seen a rabbit before and simply didn't know what to do about it. Dhia, however, was a Spunky Kitten of six weeks when she joined our family. She had no preconceptions and proceeded to make friends with Hazel. Hazel, being the Gregarious Rabbit that he is, accepted her without hesitation, and it has been interesting to watch the evolution of their relationship.

When Dhia was still small, she liked to play Big Ferocious Kitty with Hazel, chasing him and pouncing on him. Since he was so much bigger, he'd just hop away and she'd fall off. Hazel and Dhia are now fairly closely matched in size, and their play together is more of a wrestling match. Although Dhia plays rough sometimes, Hazel seems to understand that it's just that, and during calmer moods, they are nice to each other.

Dhia has a cardboard box that she uses as a bed and Hazel flops out against it. Dhia will usually have a foot hanging over the edge and Hazel positions himself so that his head is under that foot. Sometimes she will forget her predatory instincts and lick his ears. Hazel likes this and grinds his teeth, which is purring, Rabbit-Style.

Hazel has always been housebroken. His cage has a front door so that he can come and go as he pleases (when I'm home to supervise). When Dhia came on the scene with her litterbox, Hazel, being a Smart Rabbit, figured out what it was for and has favored using it ever since.

Life is never dull with my two friends. Most of the time we all live harmoniously. Hazel and Dhia are my companions, and I can't imagine life without either of them.