It was a gorgeous spring day in Rittenhouse.
Simon was painting a new work of art;
And Albert was trying out a fresh apple tart.
Charlie himself was rocking away in the Fallon and Fritz cafe,
When in walked Annabelle Lee and Oliver, staring in a perplexed sort of way.
“Charlie,” said Annabelle. “A friend told me today that there is a new bully at school.
A bully that is extremely mean and extremely cruel.”
“But I don’t even know what a bully is!”
“A bully!” Exclaimed Fallon. “A bully!” Exclaimed Fritz.
“It’s a type of horse, one with horns!”
“No, no,” exclaimed Fritz, “it’s a type of flower, one with thorns!”
“Or maybe it’s, oh yes, that must be right!”
“It must be something that can fly, just like a kite!”
Charlie knew what they were saying was quite silly in this case.
But he enjoyed listening to Fallon and Fritz as they put a smile on his face.
“Well, Annabelle, to put it simply, a bully is someone who is not very nice.”
“They tease and taunt others, not once but twice.”
“Why would anyone ever tease others?”
“No one knows why people are sometimes rude and impolite.”
“But that doesn’t mean we have to act the same way, and we must always try and do what is right.”
“Did you know there was a bully right here in Rittenhouse some time ago?”
“His name was Billy the Bully, and most found him to be downright unruly.”
“He would kick over the other children’s game of Jacks.”
“And sneak into their lunchboxes to steal their favorite snacks.”
“You remember the secret of Rittenhouse? And how we must all be good?”
“Well because Billy was a bully, he could never see us and didn’t like those who could.”
“Then one day all the other children, tired of being bullied, started to call Billy names.”
“They were teasing and joking, and always playing mean games.”
“As you can imagine, Annabelle, this is something I did not appreciate.”
“For calling one names is something you must never advocate.”
“The bullied now became bullies for which I had feared,
Leaving me no choice but to have to disappear.”
“It was not only Billy who now felt left out.”
“I was gone for those who had teased him, leaving everyone to pout.”
“There was no more storytime and no more laughing.”
“And no more playtime and no more taffy.”
“What happened next, Charlie?” asked Annabelle Lee. “Did they ever find out why you were gone?”
“Well, weeks went by, and the children wondered for so long.”
“Until one by one, they started to realize what they had done was wrong.”
“As the days passed, they each felt embarrassed and sad.”
“For they did something they were not used to, and that was being bad.”
“Even though the children couldn’t see me, they didn’t want Billy to feel left out anymore.”
“And each said they were sorry, and teased nevermore.”
“After that day, Billy felt something he never felt before.”
“It was the warmth of caring, something he wanted more and more.”
” One by one, Billy apologized to all the ones he teased,
Walking away, each time feeling happy and pleased.”
“The very next day, everyone came out to play.”
“There were Stan and Jan, and even Tim and Jim.”
“And don’t forget Millie, who was even playing with Billy.”
“And with happiness and glee, I was there for everyone to see.”
“Even Billy, the no longer bully, could only chuckle with glee.”
“You see Annabelle in this case; it took a group of children to realize that all Billy needed was a friend.”
“And the virtue of kindness to be a better person in the end.”
“So, we should treat others the way we would want to be treated?”
“Exactly!”
“The world is a better place when good people prevail.”
“Just remember whenever you are angry, that kindness never fails.”
The Rittenhouse Mouse 