Fine fragile flacks of pristine snow drifted down from grey overcast skies collecting in a thin coating along black leather swing seats and along yellow hand rails leading into the gravel playground. Glancing out from frost rimmed windows bright eager eyes watched the first flurries of the season with anticipation of winter activates fast approaching. Dragged reluctantly back to the vocabulary list scrawled in tidy white chalk a pair of green orbs studied the adverbs and adjectives upon the black board copying them down into a spiral note book. Brushing a lock of blond hair away from his black facemask Collin glanced to his right just in time to notice a pink erased tip fly by striking the black sensitive ear tip of the red fox kit seated next to him.
Flinching at the slight sting Mikky turned around to glance at his antagonist with an irritated look at the grey raccoon two desks back before turning around hunching down over his books ears laying flat. Glaring at Jeremy for a second Collin locked his eyes with the raccoon’s amber irises narrowing his own as a warning as the belligerent kit smirked back tugging on the pink head of another pencil. Turning around the artic fox raccoon hybrid lifted his number two pencil getting half way through jotting down aggravating when he felt the impact of a rubberized projectile bounce off the back of his head. Sharp squeals accompanied the motion of Collin as he pushed his chair back to turn and point a finger at the class bully.
“Knock it off Jeremy!” The mix breed cub barked out interrupting class as the raccoon kit looked back innocently for all the class to see.
“Collin, Jeremy don’t disrupt class,” The black feline teacher said as she strode over between the two kits, “You want to tell me what’s bothering you too so much you can’t pay attention to your lesson?”
“Jeremy keeps flicking eraser heads at me and Mikky,” Collin explained to Ms Fitzgerald as she glanced down at the white kit missing the threatening look the accused sent at the timid red fox kit, “He won’t knock it off.”
“Jeremy, are you throwing eraser tips at other students?” The black furred feline asked with frowning blue eyes stepping up to the raccoon cub looking over his desk for evidence of mischief.
“No Ms. Fitzgerald,” Jeremy denied in sweet honeyed tones, “See my pencil has its eraser, I don’t know what Collin’s talking about.”
“Mikky, has Jeremy thrown anything at you?” The teacher asked the red fox cub as she examined the proffered complete yellow writing utensil the trouble maker held up.
“No Ms. Fitzgerald,” Mikky said in a small voice as he avoids the disappointed look from his best friend, “He hasn’t thrown anything at me.”
“Very well,” Ms. Fitzgerald says walking back to the front of the class white hair whishing back and forth and picks up her pick of chalk, “Collin no more out bursts please. Now I want every one to try using one of the new adverbs and adjectives in a sentence. You have fifteen minutes before recess; you’ll hand in your sentence before heading out to the play ground.”
Grinding his teeth a little Collin pulls out a fresh piece of paper placing the tip of his pencil down and drawing out a thick dark line as he worked. Looking back with a final silent pleading apology Mikky goes back to work too, his unruly scribble interrupted as another pink projectile bounced off his head. Heat rose to Collin’s cheeks tinting them pink as he struggled to maintain composer long enough to finish his lesson hissing under his breath as he felt an impact to his back and Jeremy’s giggle. When the bell rang the frustrated cub scooped up his class work dropping it off with the others as he headed for the door grabbing his new winter jacket and mittens on his way out to the playground.
Breathing out white puffs of water vapor as he pushed through the mass of cubs scrambling for the collection of balls and toys the white hybrid kit searched out his friends in an isolated corner of the school building. Huddled close a red squirrel cub consoled Mikky as she rubbed her paws together waving Collin to join her as she tried to encourage the forlorn kit to stand up for him self.
“Come on Mikky,” Sarah said having trouble getting the embarrassed cub to meet her brown eyes, “You can’t let Jeremy keep pushing you around! Tell Ms. Fitzgerald what really happened! He’s not going to stop until you make him.”
“Hey Collin,” Mikky said quietly taking the chance to escape the out raged squirrel’s gaze for a moment to greet his other best friend, “I’m sorry for lying. I just don’t want any trouble.”
“Its o.k. Mikky,” Collin said leaning against the side of the red brick wall trying his best to sound unconcerned, “I’m not mad at you. But Sarah’s right, you shouldn’t let a bully get the better of you. Remember we’ll your friends, we’ll stand up with you.”
“He’s right Mikky,” Sarah said balling her paws into fist bouncing on the balls of her feet excitedly, “If Jeremy messes with you he messes with us! We can take him together!”
“I’d like to see you try!” The condescending voice of the aforementioned bully called out, “Like I can’t take on a girl, a nerd, and a freak.”
Jeremy sneered as he approached the trio with a pair of his own dimmer looking pals. Glaring back at the raccoon kit Collin pushed off the wall ignoring the two looming husky pups beside Jeremy standing his ground before his friends. Behind him Mikky flinched away cowering as he looked for a way out while Sarah jumped up beside Collin backing him up.
“I want an apology Jeremy,” Collin said softly as the canines chuckled behind the raccoon kit, “An apology to both me and Mikky. Then you’re going to tell Ms. Fitzgerald what you did.”
“You must be stupid half breed!” The bully laughed out loud stepping up to the white kit and bumping into his chest knocking him back a step, “You can’t tell me what to do! No one cares what a freak like you has to say, that’s why Ms. Fitzerald didn’t believe you.”
“I’m warning you Jeremy back off!” Collin said bearing his teeth and flexing his paws as he stepped right back up to the raccoon kit, “I’m not afraid of you. I won’t let you push me or my friends around.”
“Yeah, you better run off Jeremy,” Sarah chimed in looking down her nose at the bullies unflinching, “You’ll need a lot more help then those two to take us on! Isn’t that right Mikky?”
“Yeah,” The scrawny red fox kit said in a shaking voice inching up slowly, “Leave us alone Jeremy. We’re not scared of you.”
Looking at the three cubs standing up to him Jeremy blinked unaccustomed to others resisting his intimidation tactics. The two husky pups with him also seemed a little lost as the normal script they followed was turned on its head waiting for their de-facto leader to make the next move. Squaring up his shoulders Jeremy took another step forward almost nose to nose with Collin as he ratcheted up his game to the next level. The bully couldn’t let the new kid up stage him or no one would listen to what he told them to do any more.
“Its cute how you found a couple of loser friends,” Jeremy spoke softly to Collin with a malevolent stare, “Must be lonely for an orphan boy abandoned by his real parents, its really sweet that you found some other cast offs to hang out with.”
“What did you say?” The Collin said going stiff as his tail puffed out Sarah and Mikky leaning in to hear the exchange.
“You heard me orphan boy,” Jeremy smiled with triumph as he found a weak spot to push into. The canine pawns chuckling as they got it too, “Your real mom and dad didn’t love you, that’s why they let a stranger take you instead. They never loved you, I wonder if they got a fair price for you…”
The bully’s last sentence was cut off as Collin snarled and leapt into Jeremy’s stomach shoving him into the cold ground as the others started yelling and circling the fighting cubs. Pulsing waves of pressure ran through out the white kit’s body as he straddled the grey and black raccoon cub pummeling his masked face with balled up paws. High pitched ringing inside Collin’s ears over whelmed Sarah’s cries to stop as the husky pups took off running for the teachers calling for help as Mikky tried to grab his friend’s arms. Shrugging off his friends restraints Collin kept hitting Jeremy finding it hard to breath as tears stung his face obscuring the bully’s sobbing curled up form.
As suddenly as the fight started it ended as Collin felt a pair of strong paws lift him off Jeremy as Ms. Fitzgerald knelt down looking over the quivering kit. Looking back over his shoulders as he was led away from the scene by the stern looking beaver assistant principal the panting white kit looked at his friends’ horrified faces and felt ashamed. Ears pinning back Collin followed along to the principle’s office the kit gazed at his sneakers as he went along silent and remorseful. Taking a seat outside the office the cub hugged his knees to his chest and wrapped his tail around to hide his face as the secretary picked up the phone to call his father.
***
Striding into the main office of the elementary school building a worried looking sandy colored ferret with light brown face mask nodded as the black and white skunk secretary stood up to greet him. Following along Andrew stepped into the assistant principal’s office shaking the beaver’s offered paw before glancing at Collin as he huddled in his chair. Sitting down the ferret waited for an explanation to why he had been called to the school.
“I’m sorry to have call you in for a meeting Mr. Hendrick,” Mr. Welkins said as he sat down behind his desk, “But I must report Collin here got into a scuffle during recess today. Apparently he got into an argument with another kit named Jeremy and the two came to blows. Even as this is his first offense, I must remind you that we have a strict no fighting policy here at our school and need to reinforce the severity of punishments if this type of behavior continues.”
“I understand,” Andrew said looking over Collin of injury finding only puff eyes from crying, “Can you tell me what started the fight? What were they arguing about?”
“Apparently Jeremy had been picking on Collin and another student named Mikky before recess,” The beaver continued as Collin held his paws between his legs as he looked at the floor, “Then out side Jeremy confronted Collin and insulted his mother and father, and that is why Collin hit Jeremy which started the fight.”
“You threw the first punch?” Andrew turned to his adopted son looking and sounding surprised and disappointed, “Collin, you know better then that.”
“Our standing policy holds both participants accountable for the fight,” Mr. Welkins continued as Collin sniffled looking up at his dad pleadingly, “As Jeremy did antagonize Collin he too will be getting a warning. If they fight again it will lead to an out of school suspension for the both of them. If it persists past that, stricter punishment including possible expulsion may be considered, do you understand Mr. Hendricks?”
“I understand Mr. Welkins, Collin will improve his behavior,” The ferret said as he glanced meaningful at his son, “I must ask though, does the school have an anti-bullying policy?”
“Not at this time,” The beaver sighed leaning back in his chair rubbing the bridge of his nose, “I understand the concern Mr. Hendricks, and the school board is considering such a policy at this time, but until one is passed we will have to do with what we have.”
“Well I hope it passes quickly,” The ferret said reaching over to rub Collin’s shoulder encouragingly, “If there’s nothing else?”
“No,” Mr. Welkins said standing up, “Thanks for you time, its important that parents be involved with their children’s activities in school.”
Andrew nodded as he led Collin out the door to the waiting jeep helping the kit into his seat and buckling him up. Driving home in silence the white kit kept peering up at his papa feeling a wiggling pain in his tummy as the look of disappointment and frustration grew on the ferret’s face. Pulling into the garage Collin looked as Sarah waved to him from her window as they passed inside before the door closed behind them. Stepping into the living room Andrew turned to look down at his son bracing for his first real test of parenting skill.
“Collin, I want you to tell me why you hit Jeremy,” The ferret asked as he motioned for the kit to sit down on the couch, “I need to understand why you did it.”
Collin winced a bit blushing as he recalled the insults and teasing feeling flushed all over again as he explained it to his dad.
“Jeremy is always picking on me and Mikky.” The kit started out balling his paws into fists, “And today he pushed me and said mom gave me away and didn’t love me! I hate him, and I hate what he said, that’s why I hit him!”
Sitting down on the corner of the couch Andrew reached out taking Collin’s shaking paws in his own holding tight as he looked into his eyes.
“You know that what Jeremy said wasn’t true,” The ferret said softly reaching up to stroke the kit’s face, “I understand how upset you must have felt, but you needed to show it in another way. The school doesn’t want you fighting.”
“But what am I supposed to do?” Collin cried out looking up in frustration, “Ms. Fitzgerald didn’t believe me! He won’t stop and no one was doing anything! It’s not fair!”
Andrew paused feeling for his son as instinct drove him to protect his own family at any cost. But his rational mind told him he needed to find a better answer to the problem then promoting fisticuffs.
“I’m not going to say that you should never fight Collin,” The ferret said at last lifting his chin gently to articulate his point, “But I don’t want you to start a fight, only finish them if you get involved o.k.”
“Alright papa,” The kit sniffled nodding and trying to be brave, “I will.”
“O.k.” Andrew said lifting the cub to his feet, “I want you to wait up stair until dinner. No games, no music, and no Sarah. I want you doing your home work and thinking about other ways to solve a fight other then hitting someone.”
Collin nodded climbing the stairs to his room and flopping down on his bed hugging his pillow to his chest as he struggle to calm down. Watching his boy disappear upstairs the ferret ran his paw through his hair sitting down in the kitchen wondering how to proceed at this point. As the afternoon wore on Andrew stepped outside to pick up Trent from the high school eager to discus and debate the situation with his mate. Listening in silent disapprove the hare took in the tale worrying for the well being of his son.
“They say what sort of punishment this Jeremy kid will be getting?” Trent asked as he took a seat in the kitchen, “It’s not all on Collin is it?”
Sitting down after peeking up stairs to check on his charge Andrew shook his head as he consoled with his soul mate.
“Just the same warning as I got,” Andrew said feeling a little lost and over whelmed, “As long as they don’t do it again it’ll be alright.”
“Are they making them apologize to each other?” Trent asked folding his arms over his chest, “And if they aren’t should we discuss it with Jeremy’s parents?”
The ferret shrugged resting his chin on his paws as he though it over in his head.
“It might be a good idea to talk with Jeremy’s parents any way,” Andrew said after a moment, “See what they think about it. But I’m not going to force an apology if neither of them means it. I don’t want Collin to think being insincere is o.k.”
“But what about the rule against fighting?” Trent asked, “We have to teach him that fighting is not o.k. He needs to know that there are other ways to deal with a problem right?”
Blanching a little at that Andrew leaned back clearly in disagreement on that front. Raising an eyebrow Trent waited for his mate to clarify his objection and propose a solution.
“I don’t want Collin to think he has to ignore insult or injury,” The ferret started feeling a little heated from his own past, struggling to put it aside and face the current problem like an adult, “But its true he needs to find other alternatives other then just throwing punches. That should be our message to him. When confronted with conflict he should respond in his own defense, through words, outside assistance, and if it come to blows to defend himself physically if he has too. He should never feel he has to put up with abuse from anyone.”
Trent nodded as he listened to the passionate response finding it difficult to disagree with the proposition.
“It sounds like a plan but might I offer one more option?” The hare asked carefully as the ferret nodded, “Forgiveness can be the best solution for lasting peace. It’s the only one that ends a fight in favor of both parties.”
“If both take steps to correct the grievances that led to the fight I concur,” Andrew smiled reaching out to squeeze Trent’s paws, “Well I think we got a good plan, lets see how Collin reacts.”
Climbing the stairs Trent followed Andrew up to Collin’s room looking down on the tear stained cub heart broken. Grabbing a wash cloth from the bathroom sink the hare bent down to clean away the grim and tears as he sat on one side of the kit while the ferret took the other. Once the cub was cleaned up and snuggling safe between the two adults Andrew spoke out softly but authoritatively.
“O.k. Collin,” Andrew said while rubbing the cub’s back, “What have you come up with to remind yourself how to solve a fight?”
“I’m not sure papa,” Collin whimpered as he hugged Trent looking a little bleak, “It’s hard, I was just trying to protect my friend and myself.”
“Maybe your friends can help then,” Trent said as he brushed he bangs out of the kit’s eyes, “You can tell them the different ways you can solve a fight and you can work with each other then, watch each others back like you were today for them.”
Collin looked up blinking as he heard this nodding as he listened to the hare liking the idea of having his friends help.
“That could work,” The kit said softly and looked up at Andrew, “I’ll let Sarah and Mikky know so we can work together.”
“And what other things can you do to end a fight with out hitting some one?” The ferret asked scratching behind Collin’s ears.
“I can tell the teacher what’s going on,” Collin said running down the list, “I can try to talk and work it out with who ever picking on me with my friends with me too.”
“And you can fight back if you have too,” Trent said as Collin looked up, “But it’s a last resort only if nothing else is working. And you don’t throw the first punch.”
Collin nodded relieved both his dads wanted him to defend himself and not tying his paws behind his back.
“There one more option, but it’s the hardest” Andrew said looking down on Collin, “You can apologize to each other, and if you both mean it and try to make up to each other then it’s the best way to end a fight.”
“But what if he doesn’t mean it?” The kit asked, “What if I don’t ether…”
Gazing down concerned at the troubled cub Trent turned his face gently to look in his eyes.
“Why won’t you mean it?” The hare asked worried his son was already despising someone, “Did you really want to hurt him?”
“He was making fun of my mom!” Collin whined feeling hurt again, “I don’t wanna apologize!”
“If Jeremy said he was sorry, and really meant it would you believe him?” Andrew asked as the kit rubbed his eyes, “We’re not asking you forgive him if he’s not sorry for saying what he did.”
“Maybe,” Collin sniffled, “If he meant it, but I don’t think he will.”
“That’s why it’s hard Collin,” Trent said carefully, “But you’ll never know unless you ask.”
“You don’t have too son,” Andrew said leaving the decision up to Collin, “We won’t force you; it has to be because you want to.”
The cub squirmed as the statement sank in knowing he wasn’t being told to apologize to Jeremy, yet feeling a little obligated to try. Staring up the kit gauged how disappointed his papas would be if he didn’t.
“I’ll try,” The cub said at last, “But if he doesn’t mean it I won’t apologize ether.”
“At least you’re trying,” Trent said rubbing Collin’s back, “And it’s a two way street, he has to apologize too.”
The kit thought it over as his parents went down to make dinner, wishing Jeremy would just disappear forever so he didn’t have to deal with him again. He didn’t have to go through with it and that made him feel a little better, a little empowered by the right of choice. As he was called down for supper the kit decided if Jeremy didn’t feel sorry and kept making fun his friends and mom then he just have to fight him again. He’d just make sure he didn’t throw the first punch next time.
I never got into fists with someone, but I had imagined and ran throughout 3 ways to severily hurt this kid if he ever started something. A math book can do a lot of damage when used as a weapon. Thankfully (for him) we never got to that...
I never got into fists with someone, but I had imagined and ran throughout 3 ways to severily hurt t
Sorry it took a few days to reply. I am so glad that you have continued the story. I for one want to know how the situation develops, how the 'family' melds together more fully. Bullies never apologise though...they only respect the fist. Suggest maybe an out of school scrap would solve the issue.
Sorry it took a few days to reply. I am so glad that you have continued the story. I for one want
I have to admit, this story is keeping me captivated. I especially like Andrew's role and how you show the strain he goes through is just as much as Collin's own. Keep up the good work!
I have to admit, this story is keeping me captivated. I especially like Andrew's role and how you sh
Being a new dad can bring with it a lot of conflicting emotions, the over bearing protective urges along with the need to teach restrained and responsibility. Its not an easy job and Andrew's not perfect, but he's going to give it his best.
Being a new dad can bring with it a lot of conflicting emotions, the over bearing protective urges a
