Booker-T has an Idea

Booker-T sat on the swing for what seemed like a long time thinking. He kept staring at the sky trying to find a solution to the boy's bullying. Suddenly he jumped up and smiled. “I think I might have an idea.”

“I hope so Booker-T,” said Midge. “You sure sat there thinking a long time.”

“I know,” said Booker-T. “But this is tough problem to solve. We are only animals and this won't be too easy to solve since we can't talk to the bully.”

“We have to do something,” said Snappy. “I want my home at the pond to be safe.”

“I know Snappy,” said Jake. “And we need the neighborhood to be safe again from his bullying.”

“What is your idea Booker-T?” asked Midge.

“First thing we need to do is push him into that pond when we see him throwing rocks at Snappy,” said Booker-T.

“How are we going to do that?” asked Jake.

“Tomorrow morning we will all go to the park and wait for those boys to show up,” said Booker-T. “And when he starts throwing rocks at Snappy again, Jake, you run up behind him and hit him with your head and send him falling into the water.”

“Think that will work?” asked Jake.

“What about the other boys?” asked Midge. “They have been following this boy since he moved into the neighborhood.”

“I think he bullied them into following him,” said Booker-T. “Making them think he was something big. But he is nothing but small because of his actions and the other boys need to see that.”

“If any of the other boys pick up a rock to toss it after you knock the bully into the water, turn and act as if you are going to knock them into the water also,” said Midge. “Maybe that will scare them off.”

“I guess it is worth a try,” said Jake. “That might stop them from tossing rocks at Snappy, but how do we get him to stop bullying the kids in the neighborhood?”

“I will think of something for that, but right now we need to stop the rock throwing at Snappy,” said Booker-T.

“Okay,” said Jake. “We will all meet here in the morning and go to the park before the boys get there and wait.”

“Come on Snappy,” said Midge. “We will walk back to the pond with you and make sure all is safe for the rest of the day.”

“Thanks you guys,” smiled Snappy. “Maybe we can play in the pond when we go back.”

“Sure,” said Booker-T. “We can stay and play for a while. If those boys are there when we get there, we will take care of the problem today.”

“I'm ready,” said Jake. “Lets go.”

The four friends started up the sidewalk to the corner where they crossed into the park. As they approached the pond, they saw the boys coming across the park from the other side of the pond. They were picking up rocks along the pathway through the trees. When the four got close to the pond, Jake sent Snappy to the pond alone while the other three stood behind some trees and bushes waiting to see what would happen.

“Go get into the pond Snappy,” said Jake. “We will watch to see what they do and we are ready to knock him into the water.”

“Okay Jake,” said Snappy as he started toward the pond.

As he reached the pond and went into the water, the boys came around the pond to the side where Snappy went into the water. They bully stood the closest to the edge of the pond and started tossing rocks at Snappy as he swam toward a log in the center of the pond. As he raised his arm to throw another rock, Jake came running from the bushes and hit the boy with his head as hard as he could and sent the boy into the water. Jake stood at the water's edge and lowered his head and stared at the boy in the water, daring him to come out and try throwing rocks again. Midge joined Jake and stood staring at the other boys. One raised his hand to toss a rock at them and Booker-T came running from the other direction and leaped upon the boys back and caused him to fall into the water. The two boys in the water stood staring at Jake and Midge. The other three boys dropped the rocks they were holding and turned to leave the park. The bully in the water yelled at them to come back but the boys ran faster away from the pond, ignoring him.

Jake, Midge and Booker-T stood staring at the two boys as they climbed out of the pond wiping the water from their faces. The bully reached down to pick up a rock and Jake lowered his head and growled a little and took two steps toward the boy. Midge kept her eye on the other boy. The bully yelled at the other boy to toss a rock at them, but the boy stood still and told him no as he turned to walk away from them. The bully just stood there looking at Jake and started to reach for a rock. Again Jake lowered his head and growled a little as he took another step in the boy's direction. The boy dropped the rock and ran away from the pond.

“Do you think that helped?” asked Snappy as he crawled out of the pond.

“I hope so,” said Booker-T. “We will know maybe tomorrow. But now we need to find a way to stop him from bullying the other kids in the neighborhood. How are we going to do that?”

“Maybe these other boys saw him for who he really is now and won't follow along with him,” said Jake.

“Without his followers, he will be on his own and no one to do his bullying for him,” said Midge.

“We will watch and see,” said Jake.

“Want to play in the water now?” asked Snappy.

“We want to rest here a few minutes first,” said Jake. “I think we did good.”

“Thanks guys,” smiled Snappy. “Maybe now my little pond will be safe.”