Lucky Charm – Short Story

Once upon a time, at the small state fare; all the local farmers gathered proudly to demonstrate their harvest of the season.

Amongst the farmers was young Bruce the Carrot farmer; who stood behind the crowd quietly as he admired the fresh and prosperous harvest of the other farmers. Bruce looked at the baskets full of carrots he had brought to the fare and felt that his harvest was far from being as good as the rest of the farmers. 

While all the other farmers were selling loads of Corn, Radishes, fruits and other vegetables; Bruce’s baskets were still full and as the mass would pass him, they did not even take a second look. At the end of the fare, the young Carrot farmer felt sad and ashamed to not have sold any of his crops. Bruce’s farmer friends just patted him on the back and would say before leaving… “Better luck next time Bruce!”

The next morning came and the young farmer was determined to change his luck… He decided to go visit his friend Luke the Corn farmer to ask for some help. Luke had many more farming experience and Bruce was sure that he would offer good advice.

When he arrived at Luke’s home, the corn farmer invited him in for a delicious breakfast of corn treats. There were corn chips with corn dip, corn flakes and fresh milk.  Bruce ate to his heart’s content! Once he finished his meal, he was soon reminded of the reason why he came to visit his friend.  Bruce wished that he could make delicious treats with his carrots as his friend made with corn. Bruce than asked his friend what was the secret to a delicious, prosperous crop. “A Lucky Charm” answered Luke; He then explained that he keeps a rabbits foot in his pocket every day that he works on his farm and that it has brought him good luck for many years. “You should get a rabbits foot too, maybe then you will have better luck” said Luke to his friend Bruce.

Bruce took his friends advice and ran in to the woods to find a rabbit to get his rabbits foot… He soon came across a little rabbit that he closed in a small little cage. Once Bruce arrived at the farm, he told the little rabbit how sorry he was to have to take one of his little rabbits feet so I he could have a rabbit’s foot to bring me luck for his farm.

The little rabbit full of fear of losing one of his paws came up with a fast idea! “Well mister; If one little rabbits foot can bring you luck, just imagine how much luck a full rabbit will bring you? All you have to do is to let me hop freely every morning by your crops and soon you will have the best harvest of all” said the small rabbit!

Bruce was a little puzzled but thought that what the rabbit said made sense and decided to keep the little rabbit.

The next morning Bruce put up a fence all around his carrot crops for the little rabbit not escape and left the rabbit to hop freely around his carrots…

The little rabbit still very scared to lose a foot, watered the carrots and fluffed up the soil they were planted in every day. Soon Bruce’s average carrots started growing in to bright orange juice filled and tasty carrots.

Bruce and the little rabbit worked every day together on the farm for a full year and soon became best buddies!

One night after a full day of work on the farm, Bruce noticed his little rabbit friend looking a bit sad. When Bruce asked the little rabbit what was wrong… The rabbit sighed deeply and explained how he missed his other rabbit friend in the woods where he once lived.

The young farmer felt guilty for keeping his little friend away from his home and decided to let the little rabbit visit his rabbit friend for a day! The little rabbit was very excited about his visit and before he left he said to his farmer friend “Don’t forget to water the carrots and fluff the soil while I am gone!” 

Bruce did just as the little rabbit said and at the end of the day when the little rabbit returned from his visit, the young farmer was happy to see that no harm was done to the crops in the little rabbit’s absence.  He then decided to let the little rabbit go for a three day visit to the woods hoping that no harm would come to his crops while the little rabbit was gone. Before the little rabbit left he said to his farmer friend “Don’t forget to water the carrots and fluff the soil while I am gone!” So young Bruce did just as the little rabbit had told him and saw that no harm was done to the crops after the three day visit. 

Soon Bruce allowed the little rabbit to leave for a week and then two weeks, soon after that the rabbit left for a month and then two and then more; and every time the little rabbit was about to go he would remind his farmer friend not to forget to water the carrots and fluff the soil every day!

One day, after Bruce had finished watering the carrots and fluffing the soil he decided to go visit his old friend Luke who had given him the idea of keeping a rabbit’s foot for luck. 

The young farmer arrived at Luke’s corn farm with a large basket of delicious carrots for his friend. Luke was happy to see that the young farmer was doing so well on his farm and asked him how did he change his luck?

Bruce explained to his friend how he and his new rabbit friend had been working hard on the carrot farm every day since his last visit and how everyday they would water the carrots together and fluff the soil. Luke’s eyes opened wide with surprise while listening to Bruce’s story; Then Luke explained how he had been watering his corn crops every day and fluffing the soil for many years.

Both farmers soon noticed that the reason their crops were so delicious and prosperous was not due to any lucky charm but the true reason was the hard work they put in to their harvest every day! 

Luke then decided to throw away his rabbits foot; and Bruce let his little rabbit free! 

That year at the state fare, Bruce sold all of the carrots he had taken to the fare and when his other farmer friend asked him how he had turned his luck around…

  

Bruce answered “I watered and fluffed the soil every day”!