よるのかえりみち

the long version

A mother rabbit and her young bunny are on their way home in the dark night. My mother carries me through the quiet streets, the bunny explains. Most of our neighbors are already home. The bunny can see their lights in the windows, and hear and smell what they might be doing: talking on the phone, pulling a pie out of the oven, having a party, saying goodbye. When they reach home, the father rabbit tucks the bunny into bed. But the bunny continues to wonder about the neighbors activities. Are the party guests saying goodnight? Is the person on the phone getting ready for bed? And what of the footsteps that can be heard in the street as the bunny falls asleep? Will she take the last train home?