Peter Rabbit's Tale

by Martha Fisher

Remember Tremont Center?  Penny candy store, pharmacy, shoe shop, and menagerie; forget Easton—Tremont had it all.

When I was about five, my grandfather gave my family a tiny rabbit.  Don’t remember why; most likely for Easter.

I loved that rabbit.  Cleverly, as a family, we named him Peter.  Peter Rabbit was just like a member of the family.  Cuter and furrier, sure, but one of us.

As Peter Rabbit grew, his charm seemed to...evaporate.  We began ignoring him—except for our cleaning lady who regularly asked for him to come home with her.  Clearly, Peter Rabbit’s ultimate destination once at her house was going to be the stew pot.  My father, a wonderful person, did not like pets in any form.  He thought the stew pot was an ideal solution for Peter Rabbit.

Not surprisingly, this caused significant upset with the kids.  Every Friday, when the cleaning lady came, we guarded Peter Rabbit to prevent his departure for the stew pot. 

My Mom found a solution for Peter Rabbit’s longevity by donating him to the Tremont Center fenced green space.  Less than a zoo; more than a stew pot—the ideal location. Peter Rabbit could live in style at his own UA residence where we could find him—and the cleaning lady couldn’t. 

I think we checked up on him for about a year; bringing him carrots and making sure he was fine.  Somewhere along the line, we stopped checking up on him—probably about the time penny candy lost its allure.  I can’t even tell you when the Tremont pet space went away.  However, I can tell you that, now, 50 years later, I’m very happy Peter Rabbit didn’t end up in a stew pot.   So, next time you walk by the set-in space at Tremont Center…give a quick look around for Peter Rabbit.  If you find him, give him a pat (or a carrot) for the Fishers.