Contributing Writer

The egg hunts are ended, the brightly colored baskets put away until next year. The chocolate bunnies have had their ears bitten off by hungry little children, and you're all worn out wrestling the kids for that last delectable Cadbury egg.

As you lay in your recliner trying to catch your breath, just before you doze off two thoughts slowly creep into your mind: Just where did your wife hide that second bag of Cadbury Eggs, and just what does the Easter Bunny do for the rest of the year?�The answer to the first question I can't help you with, but the second one I can.�For you see, the Easter Bunny lives under our tool shed in the backyard.

A small knock came at the door early Saturday morning, so quiet I almost didn't hear it as I slowly lumbered my way towards the kitchen for that first glass of super sweet tea that would jolt my mind into awareness.�It would be one of many downed throughout the day by this natural-born Georgia boy. Can't imagine how anyone could drink tea without it being loaded with sugar; that's just un-American.�Well, at least it's un-Georgian.

But I digress.�The small rap at the door repeated itself again.�Not fully awake, I diverted my attention, and taste buds, from the kitchen and my golden glass of caffeine, stumbled over the cat, hit the wall, stubbed my toe, reached for the front door, and opened it.�Outside two ten-year-old boys stood and said in unison (way too cheerful for so early in the morning), "Hi, Fireman Rick!"

I mumbled a polite response as the pain throbbed from my toe to my still-not-fully-functioning brain.�I tried to listen as the boys began to explain that their Easter Bunny got loose and now lives under my tool shed, but all I could hear was my glass of super sweet tea calling me from the fridge. Luckily The Wife saw my dilemma and my stubbed toe, came to my rescue, and handed me a band-aid and my caffeine, er, tea.

With tea in hand I followed the two boys as they crept around the house and pointed to a gray and black bunny that had indeed taken up residence in our backyard.�As we approached, it hopped over and scurried beneath the shed.�The boys asked me if I could catch it.�Standing up straight, I puffed up my chest and told them, "Sure kids, don't worry.�Fireman Rick will soon catch and return your bunny safe and sound before you can finish eating all of your Easter eggs."

Well, that's what I told them in my mind; I still wasn't fully awake yet, so I just grunted a "Yeah, sure."�As the boys ran