Guess How Much I Love You

Little Nutbrown Hare was getting ready for bed. The sun was setting, painting the sky in soft oranges and pinks.

Big Nutbrown Hare was there, tucking him in, making sure he was warm and cozy. Little Nutbrown Hare looked up at Big Nutbrown Hare.

"Guess how much I love you?" he asked, his eyes wide and bright. Big Nutbrown Hare smiled a warm, gentle smile. "Oh, I don't think I could guess that," he said softly. "This much!" said Little Nutbrown Hare, stretching out his arms as wide as they could possibly go.

He stretched and stretched until his little paws almost touched the edges of his bed. Big Nutbrown Hare had even longer arms. "But I love you this much," he said, stretching his own arms out, wider than Little Nutbrown Hare could ever imagine. Little Nutbrown Hare giggled.

That was a lot! "I love you as high as I can reach!" said Little Nutbrown Hare, standing on his tiptoes and stretching his paws up, up, up. He wobbled a little, but he reached as high as he could. Big Nutbrown Hare stood up tall.

"And I love you as high as I can reach," he said, stretching his arms up to the very top of the tree branches above them. Little Nutbrown Hare looked up, and the branches seemed so far away. "I love you all the way along the path, as far as the river," cried Little Nutbrown Hare. He imagined the long, winding path that led to the cool, flowing river.

Big Nutbrown Hare smiled. "I love you across the river and over the hills," he said, and Little Nutbrown Hare knew that was a very, very long way indeed. Little Nutbrown Hare looked up at the night sky. "I love you right up to the moon," he said, and he closed his eyes, imagining the big, round moon shining down.

"Oh, that's very far," said Big Nutbrown Hare. "I love you right up to the moon and back."

Little Nutbrown Hare was feeling very sleepy now. He snuggled down into his bed of leaves and grass. Big Nutbrown Hare leaned over and kissed him goodnight.

He whispered, "I love you to the moon and back, and all the way to the stars, and beyond."

Little Nutbrown Hare closed his eyes, feeling warm and safe and loved.

He didn't hear Big Nutbrown Hare's last words, for he was already dreaming. He was dreaming of all the love that filled his world, from the tips of his ears to the ends of his toes. And as he slept, the moon shone brightly, watching over him.

Sweet dreams, Little Nutbrown Hare.