In school one day at lunchtime.
while sitting down to eat.
Jenny looked across the playground
to see the schoolyard bully Pete.

And in the corner before him
cringed a smaller boy in fear
clutching tightly to his lunchsack
while he wiped away a tear.

This will never do she thought
and something should be done.
And suddenly a smile appeared
thinking she would be the one

to teach Pete his big lesson
of showing kindness to another.
Of helping those in need
and to look out for each other.

Reaching into her school backpack
she retrieved a small black book.
and in it were many scribblings
from her "magic spells" notebook.

Jenny quickly scanned the pages
looking for that special spell
that would teach Pete his big lesson,
one that he'd remember well.

Finding just the one she wanted
Jenny started toward the pair.
Pete was busy playing bully
and was totally unaware.

Jenny carefully recited
words she'd gotten from the book
and as things began to happen
it made Pete turn and look.

"Big to little and great to small,
birds that fly and snakes that crawl.
Take this bully and make him wise,
and with his heart - tenderize."

Before Pete even had a chance
to throw another blow
in a puff of smoke he became
a cat of calico.

With purrings and meows
he was voicing his surprise
and the small boy in the corner
looked on with big stunned eyes.

"What just happened?" he meekly asked
"Will he stay this way?"
"Nah", smilled Jenny, "he'll be back
by the end of day."

"Until then what you can do
is show him how to be
kind to others. So he can be
a friend to you and me."

So through the day the boy tried
to care for his new friend.
By feeding, watering and playing with him,
companions to the end.

As the light slowly faded
and the day turned to night,
Pete became a boy again
in the twinkle of moonlight.

He'd been laying by the boy
content with his new friend.
Now being a boy once more,
he had a hurt he must now mend.

Pete turned to this small boy
and with a tear in his eye
said "I'm really sorry for
the trouble 'tween you and I.

There's really no good reason
that can ever explain fully
why I had to hurt you
and just be the schoolyard bully.

For the first time in a while
this small boy was unafraid.
And he said that he forgave Pete
for the mistakes that he had made.

If Pete could finally see
that kindness was a better way
then all that he had been through
was his part for a better day.

And now when in the schoolyard
Pete takes care to look out for
those who need a friend and
things are better than before.