- The Rabbit ends up living in a toy box in the Boy's nursery and seems to have a hard time making friends.
- See, some of the other toys in the nursery have fancy mechanical moving parts. They like to walk around like big shots and pretend that they're real. And they snub the little Rabbit because he's just a stuffed animal filled with sawdust.
- The only one who's actually decent to the Rabbit is the Skin Horse.
- The Skin Horse is probably the oldest toy in the nursery, so he knows things. He's seen these arrogant mechanical toys come and go and break in the process. He knows that just because you have a wind up part doesn't make you real.
- So what is Real? The Rabbit asks the Skin Horse one day.
- The Skin Horse explains that toys can become Real when a child loves them for a long, long time.
- The Rabbit wonders if that hurts.
- A little bit, the Skin Horse tells him. Keep in mind the Skin Horse is looking a little shabby from years of loving play. But it's all worth it, he assures the Rabbit.
- Do you become Real super quick or is more like a long drawn out process? the Rabbit asks. He's probably hoping for the quick and easy path.
- It kind of takes a long time, the Skin Horse explains. (Dang.) That's why the toys that break really easily have a hard time becoming Real. By the time you turn Real, you're fur might be worn out or you might be missing on eye, but you won't be ugly. Well, you'll be ugly but only to people who just don't get it.
- Then the Rabbit asks if the Skin Horse is Real and the Skin Horse tells him he sure is. The Boy's Uncle apparently loved him so much that he became Real. The Skin Horse can never become unreal again. Aww.
- Hmm… the Rabbit is interested in becoming Real, but he isn't so thrilled about the whole being loved to pieces part of it. We agree. It sounds rough.