Broken Promises

Washington Hare woke up one particularly good morning in a particularly good mood from a particularly good night’s sleep. He ate his usual breakfast of buckwheat pancakes and milk. He packed his sack and threw it over his shoulder, heading out the door in his particular way to go to the market down the road.

He was feeling very enthusiastic about the birds singing in the trees and the sunshine warming even the thickest parts of his fur.

Not long after he left home, Willie Weasel saw Washington walking. “Well, good morning, Mr. Hare!” He said. “Good morning!” Washington answered, grinning broadly. Willie stopped reading his book and said, “Uh, Mr. Hare? Im having a party tonight and was wondering if you would like to stop by for a piece of cake?” Washington smiled, “Of course! I’m going to the market, but I promise I’ll stop in on my way back!”

Going on his way, Washington met up with Georgetta Goose. “Mr. Hare! I was just on my way to see you! I need your help to move the cattle into the second pasture later today. Will you be available?” “Certainly!” Washington agreed, “I’m going to the market now, but I promise I’ll stop by on my way back.”

Robinson Woodpecker caught his eye a few more miles down the road. He stopped pecking and flew down to a branch that was low enough to talk to Washington. “Mr. Hare! Just the person I wanted to see! Do you have a few minutes later this afternoon to take a look at my new home and suggest decorations?”

“Absolutely!” Washington replied, “I’m going to the market now, but I promise I’ll stop by on my way back.”

At the market Washington bought a few oranges and sat down on a nearby log to listen to the fiddle cats making their daily wages by entertaining the crowd. The day went by rather quickly, soon the sun was resting low on the horizon. But Washington was so enjoying the music and the company of the many acquaintances that had stopped to converse with him that he did not notice the time passing.

Suddenly, he remembered his promises to his neighbors. He ran quickly to Mr. Woodpecker’s house. “It’s too late.” Mr. Woodpecker explained, “I went to pick out my decorations after dinner.”

After apologizing profusely he raced over to Mrs. Goose’s pastures, but the cows had already been moved. “I waited as long as I could for your help, but it got too late and I had to do it myself. It took much longer than it would have, but I managed by myself.” Mrs. Goose said, obviously weary from the exertion.

Again, Washington apologized and then set off running down the lane in the light of the moon. It was obvious, though, when he arrived at Willie’s home, that the party was over and everyone had gone to bed.

When Washington got home he felt very depressed. He thought that this particular day was going to be particularly good. Instead, he realized that he had promised too much. “Never make a promise you can’t keep,” he thought, “or else you can loose the trust of your friends.”