Mickey was a bully. He troubled everyone in the class. He would eat up others’ lunch, hide their pencils or books, trip them up in the class or on the playground. No amount of scolding by the teacher seemed to improve him.
One day a new boy, John, came to the class. He was very quiet and studious. He wore glasses and sat in the first row so that he might see the blackboard clearly.
Mickey was waiting for an opportunity to bully the newcomer. As soon as there was a break, he went up to John and asked him his name. Then he rummaged through his bag, looking for his lunch box. There was no lunch box, so Mickey just gave John a rude shove and went out.
One day, Mickey shoved John so hard that he fell down and broke his glasses. For two days, he came to school without glasses and couldn’t read anything clearly or do his homework.
John did not tell anyone about Mickey bullying him every day. One afternoon, he heard the sound of someone crying. He found Mickey sitting behind a tree in the playground, with his
head on his hands, crying. He hesitated for a moment, then went to Mickey and put his hand on his shoulder.
Mickey jumped, startled. Then angrily he said, “What do you want? Go away!”
John sat down beside Mickey and began to talk quietly. “I lived in a village where there was no hospital. Mummy fell very sick and died as there were no doctors. Then my father came here so that I might study. Now I want to study hard and become a doctor, so I can look after people in my village.”
Mickey listened to John, and his tears dried. He wiped his face and then told John, “My mother died too last year. I was so upset and angry that I began to bully everyone around me. I live with my aunt and uncle. They have no children and they are very kind to me and put up with all my bad behaviour.”
“What do you want to do when you grow up, Mickey?” asked John.
“I want to join the army,” said Mickey.
Then let’s prepare for it!” suggested John.
Everyone was surprised when they found that Mickey had stopped bullying anyone. He and John had become the best of friends. Mickey’s aunt sent lunch for both of them. And Mickey was found to be a very bright student too, like John!
