Three Little Misfits

Principle's Office

Lunch time. To most animals it was their 2nd favorite time in school, because it meant that their first favorite part would be next. Recess. The animals came out the doors screaming. Girls made their ways to the hopscotch grids, while some of the boys went for the sports equipment shed. But for Peter Wilde, the little fox preferred the swing set. The pup looked down at the shadow of his feet, to see three more creep up on his. He looked up, to be met with the school bully and his friends. A big fourth grade pig name Herbert, his friends Max and Joe, a zebra and a panther stood behind him.

"Well, well, well. Lookey-here. It's the freak of nature." the pig snarled.

"How does it feel to be weak like a bunny?" the panther Joe backed up.

Peter just looked back down at his shadow trying to ignore the hostile comments. The pig walked up to him and prodded at his forehead with his hoof. The pig constantly poked in the same spot as he spoke.

"Hey, freaky Pete? Are you listening to me?" 

Peter smacked his hoof away. He straightened his back to make himself look tough. "Stop it, Herbert. Leave me alone." While he tried to stand up for himself, there was no valor in his voice. The pig then shoved his hooves into the fox's chest. Peter lost his balance. He tried to grab the chains of the swing, but was not fast enough. Peter fell to the ground with a thud. He grunted as his back made contact with the gravel.  

"Shut up! You are nothing but a stupid fox. You can't tell me what to do." The fox scooted himself away, but the animals just followed him and laughed, pointing their fingers at his face. Peter wiped his face, trying not to show any tears. "Aww. Is the baby gonna cry?"

"Hey!"

Herbert, Max, and Joe turned their heads to see two bunnies run up to them. Johanna went to Peter to comfort her brother, while Alex stood tall against the bullies. The bunny did not care if he was only a second grader, nobody hurts his brother. Peter was always the shy one of the litter, while Alex was the spine of the three. "Leave my brother alone!" he shouted.

Herbert scoffed at the six-year old bunny. "Ha! Hey look guys! The circus is here! Why don't you guys get lost? Nobody likes you here. Nobody will! You are nothing but freaks, and your parents are freaks too! No wonder they don't like you either!"

"Shut up!" Alex screamed in the pig's face, before jumping up and kicking him in the snout. Herbert stumbled back. He checked his nose to see blood. The pig charged at the bunny, knocking him to the ground. He beat up the bunny pretty bad, but Alex was able to fight back pretty hard. He was gifted with his mother's martial skills. A few teachers rushed in and separated the boys. The zebra Mrs. Grazefield pulled Alex back to join his brother and sister. He began sobbing from his pain, grabbing his bruised cheek. Mr. Grover, the wolf gym instructor pulled the pig away. The teachers guided them to the building. Max and Joe ran to the playground, while Peter and Johanna followed the teachers in. 

Alex pouted, looking at the floor to the right of him as he sat in the chair. Judy sat next to the bunny. She looked at him with a scowl, but also with a hint of concern as he held the ice pack to his bruised cheek. Judy looked out of the room at Johanna and Peter sitting in the chairs outside. She looked back to listen to Principle Frontworth, the horse sitting in the chair on the opposite side of the desk. Alex was given a class of detention for starting the fist fight, while Herbert was suspended for doing the more significant damage to him and to Peter.

About fifteen minutes later, The bunny drove the kids home. She looked back in the mirror to see Johanna and Peter looking down, and Alex looked out the window. She sighed.

"Alex. I understand why you did what you did, but you can't always result to fighting. There is more than one way to stand up for your brother. You know that right?" she said, waiting for a response.

"Yeah I know." he said.

She grinned, she could not stay mad at anyone due to her optimism, even if her son was given one class of detention. "I love you three very much. Just remember one thing if anything."

The three looked up at their mom as she pulled into the driveway. "Always be there for each other. Okay?" The kids looked at each other, and smiled looking back at their mother. 

"Okay!"