The Squeaky Bunny songs
These four songs go with Squeaky Bunny at Sullishak: The Short Top Step.
The small labels show who is singing — the ocean, the gulls, the bulldozer, and Bunny, who only ever says squeak.
Morning
Grandma Orma Had Some Sand
A daytime work song, sung to the pattern of Old MacDonald. In 1947 everyone had a job: Mom and Dad, Grandma Orma, little Steve, the bulldozer, the hammer, the mortar, the gulls, the ocean, and, at the end, a bunny.
Bedtime
The Short Top Step
A bouncy song for climbing the stairs at bedtime. Dad only knew one slant, so the roof is steep, the stairs are steep, and the last step is a short one — exactly Steve's size.
The cabin: Dad only knew how to make one slant, and it was a steep one.So the roof is steep. And the stairs are steep. And the last step... is a short one.
Dad only knew one slant to make,and it was steep — oh my!The roof went up like half a sandwich,pointing at the sky.Gulls: "Too steep! Too steep!"Mom: Grandma held on to her hat:Grandma Orma: "Won't it push the walls right over?"Hammer: Tap-tap-BANG. Extra pieces. Just in case.Mom: And Dad built the stairs the same.
Steve: Steep, steep stairs, and steep, steep stairs,every one as tall as it's deep!One step, two steps, three steps, four —Bunny, hold on, there's more!
Steve: Up and up and up we go,the window shows the sea.One more, one more — and the very top —the little step for me!
All: BUMP! goes the short top step,the step that didn't come out even.Dad: "That step is a mistake."Steve: "It's a good step. It's my size!"All: It's a good step! It's my size!
The cabin: I'm not finished. I'm not pretty.There's a black paper wall where the boards ran out.Mortar: But I'm the part that holds. I hold.Hammer: And I held it all together.The cabin: And the step at the top is exactly your size —and I'm yours. I'm yours. I'm yours.
Steve carried Bunny up the stairsand sat him on the short top step,facing the sea, where a bed will be.Steve: "Somebody should keep watch."Mom: "Somebody should. Squeaky Bunny."Bunny: (squeak)
Gulls: Kee-ow... home...Ocean: In... and out... and in.Mom: When they came back the next Sunday, one ear had turned toward the ocean.Nobody touched him. Everybody was almost sure.Bunny: (squeak)
Night
In, and Out, and In
A lullaby for the first night at the beach. One by one the day's noises go home, and only the ocean stays awake: in, and out, and in.
Ocean: In... and out... and in.In... and out... and in.
The wind leans on the little room,the night is wide and black,and down the hill the ocean saysWHOOSH... and back.
All day the hill was noisy. Now, one by one, goodnight:Bulldozer: Rrrrumble... clank... rrrrumble... (going home)Bulldozer driver: "Half an hour. Goodnight, folks."Hammer: Tap... tap... one more... done.Mortar: Sloooop... slap... I'm setting... hush.Gulls: Kee-ow... home... kee-ow... home...Mom: And only the ocean stayed awake.
Then close beside the pillow, soft as soft,a sound as small as small:Bunny: (squeak)Mom: Nobody touched him. Nobody at all.
Steve: Ears up, Bunny. Listen —All: in... and out... and in.It isn't a monster. It's keeping time.In... and out... and in.
The wind can lean. The dark can grow.The waves can whoosh and roar.But something small is listening,one ear turned toward the shore.
Steve: Ears up, Bunny. Listen —All: in... and out... and in.It isn't a monster. It's keeping time.In... and out... and in.
Steve: Slow and long, like Nancy breathing.Somebody should keep watch.Bunny: Somebody should. (squeak)Steve: I'll breathe with the ocean.Bunny: I'll watch. (squeak)Ocean: In... and out... and in.
Outside, the ocean keeps on breathing.Inside, Squeaky Bunny keeps watch.Ocean: In... and out... and in.Mom: Nobody touched him. Everybody was almost sure.Bunny: (squeak)
Night
Ears Down, Sully
A lullaby for Sully. Up the stairs, over the short top step, and into bed, while the day's work drifts by in the window and the sea keeps time: in, and out, and in.