Catching Dust Bunnies

The dust bunnies jumped as I opened the door. I cried out in dismay, leaping forward with my butterfly net.

Smack! Smack!

They were too fast for me, dodging and sliding into the crevices of the basement. Their tiny dusty paw prints scattering across the cement floor.

I stomped in frustration, pouting at the corners of the square room.

“I will catch one of you eventually.” I told them seriously, imaging their tiny black eyes staring at me from the safety of their hidey-holes.

I huffed and turned to exit the basement, determined to come back and try again when they have settled back down.

I stopped short, staring down at a tiny dust bunny standing in the doorway.

It was a funny looking creature. The body was small and round made of gray and black lint. A thick string of lint making a sturdy tail that curled around it’s body. The eyes were like black buttons that stared at me calmly from the floor. Forgotten pieces of paper rounded into ears.

I tightened my grip on my net, my eyes never leaving the dust bunny.

“Here little bunny-bunny, don’t move okay?” I took a single step forward, to close the distance between us. The bunny stayed still, the lost candy nose twitching.

I swung the net. The mesh fluttering in the wind as the plastic hoop came down with a loud Smack!

I smiled in triumph, looking for the dust bunny in the mesh net.

My smiled slipped as I realized the bust bunny managed to get away from me again.

I lifted the net, the hoop hanging from the broken stem. “Fine, you win this round dust bunnies, but I will be back!”

I marched from the basement, slamming the door on my way out. Stomping outside and throwing the broken net in the trash can.

Looking back at the abandoned house, I could have sworn they were staring at me, thousands of motely eyes watching me walk back down the road to my own house.