by Jenny
She walked onto the
field
Like she did every
day.
Hoping today would
be different,
Hoping they would
let her play.
He stood with his friends,
All ready for games.
Choosing teams for
baseball
Calling Jenny names.
She was different
from the others
Growing up with illnesses
They were scared they'd
get them, too
At least that's what
they guessed
So they teased and
taunted her
And they were merciless.
He joined in their
fun
And made Jenny cry.
But deep in his heart,
He never knew why.
For his mother would
say,
Time and time again,
"Treat others with
respect,
As you'd want them
to treat you.
When you hurt others,
Think of a day when
someone might hurt you."
He knew his mom would
not understand
The reason for this
game
Of teasing different
Jenny.
As her tears fell
like rain.
He figured she deserved
it
Since she never tried
to hide.
If she hated being
teased,
Then she should stay
inside.
But everyday she'd
come outside
And hope and pray
that they
Would allow her to
join their games
Be normal for today.
But every day, she'd
stand there,
tears upon her face,
For their goal, it
seemed to Jenny
Was to make her feel
disgrace.
******************
Two whole months had
passed
Since he'd been with
his friends.
He was sure they all
must wonder
What happened, where
he'd been.
He felt nervous, he
felt scared
As he limped his way
to class.
He prayed no one would
notice,
He wished no one would
ask.
The cancer and the
surgery
were bad enough for
sure
But worse, they left
him with a limp
And a red and jagged
scar.
He held his breath
and prayed
As he opened up the
door
A "welcome back" banner
and 'get well' balloons
Made him feel much
like before.
He couldn't wait to
play outside
his favorite thing
to do
Expecting friends
to welcome him back
He just didn't have
a clue.
Instead they stood
and stared.
He felt his face get
red
With words like 'stay
away'and
'Freaks like you we
dread!'
He turned, hoping
Jenny
was the butt of such
mean words,
But it was him they
taunted
It was him they called
a nerd.
He tried to join their
laughter,
He tried to not give
in
To the awful urge
to cry
To the quiver of his
chin.
They are only teasing,
He tried hard to believe.
They are still my
friends
They'd never think
of hurting me.
But the cruel remarks
continued
About the scar, about
the limp
And when a tear went
down his cheek
They labelled him
a wimp.
It was then he heard
behind him
Words of courage and
support
"Leave him alone you
meanies!"
And some other stern
retorts.
He turned and noticed
Jenny,
With her hands on
her hips.
He saw a grimace on
her face
As he tried to get
a grip.
They tried their best
to make her cry,
To make her run away
She held her head
up high this time
She was different
that day.
And he remembered
words he learned
So very long ago
He understood them
now
And now he really
knows.
"Treat others with
respect,
As you'd want them
to treat you.
When you hurt others,
Think of a day when
someone might hurt you."
Jenny wasn't weird
to him
He saw her through
new eyes.
He knew he'd never
play again
The game to make her
cry.
It took several days
of teasing
And Jenny standing
firm
When they understood
her strength,
That they couldn't
make her squirm.
They learned respect
for Jenny,
and the guy she befriended
And now out on the
playground,
The teasing has ended.
A group of kids meets
everyday
And anyone joins in
They laugh and play
and don't make fun
And every person wins.