Hey, boys and girls. It is so good to see you.
Paxton and I have another story to share with you.
It's a brand new story that we just have out
wanna say hey to Paxton.
Hey Paxton,
we are always so glad when you share a little bit of your day with us for story time.
Now story today is called
Benson Bobcat stands his ground.
Hm. I wanna guess what it's about.
It's about bullying.
Do you know what bullying is?
You know, when you have that big kid in the,
in the playground who just kind of seems to pick on everybody.
Well, that's kind of bullying, you know, it's kind of where someone is mean, not kind
to someone else. Sometimes it's pushing, sometimes it's knocking them down.
Uh, sometimes
it's saying something unkind
and sometimes you know what
that thing that we say in our, from our mouths
is sometimes the worst thing that we can do. That's almost
almost worse than being pushed over and getting a skin knee because you know what
that skin knee while it's uncomfortable for a
little while that skin knee is gonna heal.
And your mom put a band, put some stuff on it, some,
an antibiotic on it and put a band aid on it.
It'll get better in no time. Right.
But what happens when someone says something that hurts your heart
that takes longer to heal and, you know, sometimes,
sometimes it takes forever to heal. Sometimes people don't heal from at all.
It can really scar a person. It makes them feel like,
like they're not worth anything, you know.
And that's a really sad thing because we are all
worth something, right? We're all special.
We're all people who deserve kindness and
every child
should know
that they deserve kindness.
And sometimes there's a child that's different,
just different.
And
because of that they get picked on and that's a sad thing.
So our story is about bullying.
Let's see what happens with Benson and just what he does about it. What do you think?
Does that work?
Ok. Again, Ben and Bobcat stand his ground.
Ben and Bobcats saw Bella Beaver sitting near the pond on the bench painting.
He loved to watch her create magic on canvas. Hi, Bella. He said, can I watch?
Sure. She said,
but I have to leave in about 10 minutes.
We're headed to Aunt Brooklyn and Uncle Ben's house for dinner.
Settling in Benson got lost in the motion of the paint strokes
and was surprised when it was time for Bella to leave. Bye. Said Bella, see you later.
Hey, there
said Wallace woof and his best friend Wilder Woof
who abruptly appear beside him on the bench.
What's she doing?
Just hanging out? He said his heart racing.
Well, we want this bench. You've got to move,
but I was already here.
You move
or suffer the consequences. Whispered Wallace just barely audible,
scooting over Benson made room for Wallace
just wanted you to know there's a new rule in town
from now on. You've got to pay us 50 cents every day or you are going to have problems
every day
for what
asked Benson alarmed.
Yep. Or your day is gonna be miserable. Let's just say it's for your safety.
I don't have that kind of money. Moaned Benson warly.
Well, I guess you'd better find it starting tomorrow
with that. The boy slipped off the bench and sauntered away
the next morning. Benson cautiously checked his surroundings.
He knew he'd have class with Wallace and Wilder.
But he hoped being in class and around other students would keep him safe
just in case
he checked his pocket one more time.
The coins were there.
It was all he had in his piggy bank.
What he can do tomorrow was anyone's guess.
What are you hiding here for? Asked Bristol Bear as she came up behind him
just needed to get come to the chef for Miss my Rami
Ben and spluttered
hoping she couldn't tell he was lying.
You look like you're hiding.
No.
Come on, you can walk with me to class. He suggested.
Sure. She said,
hey, Benson
said a while we're rushing past him. Hope you're ready for today.
What's that all about? Question, Bristol.
Nothing.
Yeah. Ok. She said taking her seat.
Can I help you during recess, Miss Myra?
Rather than going outdoors?
Sure, I'd like to help.
Ok. She agreed.
There are a couple of things you can help
with if you're sure you don't wanna go outside
after school.
Benson went another way home hoping to avoid contact with Wallace and Wilder.
But just before he reached his block,
the boys nabbed him.
Where have you been?
They go to
busy.
He shrugged,
pay up. They demanded or you're done
fine.
He groaned, reaching into his pocket.
Well done. Don't make us come after it tomorrow growled Wallace.
As the boys turned away
the next day, Benson did his best to avoid contact with the boys
after lunch. However, he knew there was going to be trouble when Wilder saw him
pay up.
He demanded.
I can't.
All I had today was lunch money.
You better find more
or we're coming after you.
Benson again. Tried to get home before Wallace and Wilder saw him
moments before he arrived. He was spotted.
Come on guys. I told you
I don't have any money.
Then you pay the price with your hide
before he could respond.
Both boys plowed into him and then ran away as Russell entered the area.
Vinson, are you all right. She asked,
I will be. He answered.
I'll help you inside. She offered, what's that all about?
They told me I have to pay them every day to stay safe.
That's just wrong.
You got to talk to Miss Wendy Wolf at school.
She can't do anything. It's not like they did it on school property.
Tell her anyway.
I don't know.
Maybe I'll take a martial arts defense class,
but I don't even know if that will do any good.
As the days passed,
Benson found himself using his lunch money to fend off Wallace and Wilder.
Even as he attended martial arts classes offered at the local sports center
one day as he Bella and Paxton prairie dog were sitting on the bench in the park.
He saw Wallace and Wilder in the distance.
Here they come again. He thought
instead
they stopped near shale sheep walking on crutches,
ticking the crutches away. Shalon fell
without thinking. Benson ran toward them shouting, stop, stop it.
That's mean you'll hurt her.
What
you want us to work you over again.
They laugh, ask laughing.
No,
but you've got to stop.
Not a chance. Wilder smirked as he came face to face with Benson.
Benson aimed at Wilder's nose and caught it perfectly surprised.
Wilder fell off balance.
What
gasped Wallace,
stunned at what he just witnessed and unprepared for the kick in the stomach.
He just received
Paxton watching nearby. Also startled by the confrontation called
911
when the police arrived and the incident was over,
a very startled Wallace and Wilder remained on the ground.
Bella handed her iphone to the officer.
The video of the scene helped explain what happened.
That was amazing. My young friend, I can see you've been taking defense classes.
I'm proud of you for helping Shalan. Offered Officer Warner Wolf
M Wendy from school told me she'd heard you two were bullying others.
He scolded, facing Wallace and Wilder.
I think a ride downtown to the police station is just what you boys need.
He added leading them to the police car
that afternoon.
Wallace and Wilder began to understand the consequences of their behavior.
Bullying was something
bullying was a terrible choice.
What do you think? Terrible choice or no?
Yeah, it sure was a terrible choice.
Bullying is something you never want to be a part of.
You don't want to be the bully and you certainly don't want to get bullied,
but it happens a lot and, and that's kind of, that's a very sad thing actually.
Um,
and, and I, I can't explain why Children or even adults choose to bully others,
but it definitely happens.
So,
what do you think about Paxson calling 911? Was that a good idea?
Yeah.
Sometimes,
sometimes you just need to reach out to another adult that's nearby
but sometimes like they were in the park, what are they gonna do?
They were apparently weren't any
close adults
911 is what?
That's an emergency number, right? That you use when you must
and
that brought the police, the police took care of the problem. I don't know that
you always have to call the police for bullying,
but sometimes in extreme cases that would certainly be appropriate.
But the idea is
that
we need to understand
bullying is never a good idea. Never.
And it hurts,
it hurts physically,
it hurts our outside of our body where we like when you fall and get skinned,
but it also hurts our insides. It hurts our heart because those kinds of things
last for a lifetime sometimes and sometimes people never get over it
because it makes them feel like they're not worth anything like they deserve
to be hurt and no one deserves to be hurt that way.
So the next time you see someone
that's being hurt bullied,
then
get an adult if you can if they're and you might not want to step in between them.
But you might want to get an adult to say
this person is getting hurt and I think you need to come
and there's nothing wrong with that.
And certainly you don't ever want to be a bully either because
that's being very terribly unkind
and
no one wants to be unkind because we are all special, right?
Every single one of us are special
and
we deserve kindness.
And you are kind to us today by joining us and listening to our story,
Paxton and I are always glad when you join us for a story.
So you want to say bye to Paxton because it's time for us to go now. Bye Paxton.
Thank you for being with us and until next time we'll see you again. Bye.