Free New Beginnings by Laurie Halse Anderson

exercise, and they need to exercise every day. Plus, rabbits are very curious. They love to explore, burrow, shred stuff, and chew.”
    Leah opens one of the smaller cages and carries a bunny that she calls Lolli to the enclosure she made. Lolli makes a couple of excited leaps the moment she has room to play. She sniffs at one of the boxes, gnaws on the corner, then hops on top of it and looks around. Sophie laughs, but Lolli has just gotten started. When Leah adds another rabbit named Sunshine, the two sniff at each other, then chase the ball, each other, and hide out in the paper bag and cardboard tunnel.
    â€œOur rabbit chews a lot of stuff,” Sophie says. “Her name used to be Chewie.”
    Leah laughs. “That’s a perfect name for a rabbit.” She sits down inside the enclosure and closes it behind her. “Don’t mind me,” she says. “I’m just getting Lolli and Sunshine used to being friendly around people. It increases their chances of being adopted.”
    â€œYou know a lot about rabbits,” I say. “What do you do if your rabbits chew too much? Or if they chew stuff they’re not supposed to?”
    â€œWell, first off, give them plenty of nontoxic things to chew. Cardboard boxes like this one, an untreated wicker basket, carrots and veggies, of course, gobs of timothy hay, nontoxic wood or baby toys, willow balls, you name it. And believe me, if your bunny is bored, she’ll find something to chew.”
    Sophie and I squat down to watch Lolli and Sunshine hop around.
    â€œJules,” Sophie whispers too loudly in my ear. “Let’s take Lolli home to play with instead of Cuddles.” I shake my head and tell her to shush.
    â€œMy rabbit Bert loves to shred phone books,” Leah says. “Give him a phone book and he’s a happy camper, shredding it like it’s his job. Rabbits are full of curiosity, so keep giving your rabbit new toys. I’m always making new agility activities like ramps and cardboard boxes or tubes full of paper for Bert and Cupcake to dig through. They love to chase each other and burrow and toss paper around. Cupcake likes to fetch things and rearrange and bunch up and push her own towel like a home decorator. And Marshmallow? He likes to sit and watch all the antics like a big, sweet lump. Each rabbit has its own personality and temperament. And if they have another rabbit or friendly pet to bond with, they’ll have someone furry to snuggle and play with. Isn’t that right, Lollipop?”
    Lolli rubs her neck and chin against Leah’s hand.
    Sophie leans into my ear again. “We could bring Lolli home to play with Cuddles,” she says. “Two rabbits are better, right?”
    â€œOf course if you get two or more rabbits,” Leah says, “be sure that they are all spayed or neutered before you put them together, or you’ll have too many bunnies in no time. I’ve read that rabbits can reproduce about once every month with up to ten kits in each litter.”
    â€œWe plan to get Cuddles spayed soon,” I say. “Do you know how much it costs to do it here at the shelter?” I hold my breath, wondering if I can get Mom to pay me for babysitting Sophie. Or how many weeks of my saved allowances this will cost me.
    â€œThey only spay and neuter dogs and cats here. The best place to go for rabbits is Dr. MacKenzie on Main Street,” Leah says.
    â€œAre there any other vets in town?”
    â€œNot that I know of,” Leah says, petting Lolli and then Sunshine as she hops by. “Besides, not every vet knows how to care for rabbits. Dr. Mac is the greatest. You really should take your rabbit there.”
    This is not what I was hoping to hear. I start to unzip my backpack pocket, where I put my recommendation letter.
    â€œHow long have you been volunteering at the shelter?” I ask.
    â€œFor about a year—ever since I turned