James, as always, I enjoy everything you write. And...I still love to argue w/ you...all in good fun!

Okay, Rabbit has never been my favorite character, and I agree that much of society is represented in the 100 Aker Woods. However, if deceit is going to make Rabbit the "criminal," Owl needs to join the ranks.

When Pooh took his hunny pot to Owl to write "Happy Birthday" on it, Owl first asks Winnie-the-Pooh if he can read. When Owl learns that Pooh can only read things that Christopher Robins has already read to him, Owl says:

	"Well, I'll tell you what this says, and then you'll be able to."  So Owl
wrote...and this is what he wrote:

		HIPY PAPY BTHUTHDATH THUTHDA BTHUTHDY

	Pooh looked on admiringly.
	"I'm just saying 'A Happy Birthday,'" said Owl carelessly.
	"It's a nice long one," said Pooh, very much impressed by it.
	"Well, actually, of course, I'm saying 'A Very Happy Birthday with love
from Pooh.' Naturally it takes a good deal of pencil to say a long thing
like that."

Since Owl truly couldn't spell and knew that he couldn't, going so far as to see if he would get "caught" by Pooh's knowing how to read, he is also lying and deceiving!

Another place where I'm not real happy w/ Owl is when he helped himself to Eeyore's tail.

	"I just came across it in the Forest.  It was hanging over a bush, and I
thought at first somebody lived there, so I rang it, and nothing happened,
and then I rang it again very loudly, and it came off in my hand, and as
nobody seemed to want it, I took it home, and..."

In my classroom, if something is found in the room, on the way to lunch, at P.E., or a recess, the finder *doesn't* get to keep said item. He/she first walks around the pod asking the other third graders if the item belongs to one of them. Then...it goes into the "lost and found" box in the office. Surely, Owl could have inquired about this "bell pull" before hanging it up.

Rabbit really does get the credit for being so very nasty in his reception of Kanga and Roo to the forest. But, I'm not sure about the instance where Rabbit tells Pooh that he's not at home.

He is, of course, lying about not being home, but maybe it was out of concern for his safety; I don't open the door today to people I don't know. I will start up where you ended your quote.

	"But this *is* Me! said Bear, very much surprised.
	"What sort of Me?"
	"Pooh Bear."
	"Are you sure?" said Rabbit, still more surprised....

	"You were quite right," said Rabbit, looking at him all over. "It is
you. Glad to see you."
	"Who did you think it was?"
	"Well, I wasn't sure.  You know how it is in the Forest.  One can't have
anybody coming into one's house.  One has to be careful.  What about a
mouthful of something?"

If Rabbit really hadn't wanted to have Pooh there, I don't think he would have offered the "mouthful."