Wolfie and the Schoolyard Mystery, Part 3: The Boy Who Stood Up

When Benny the bully targets a younger student, Joshua does something nobody expects: he stands his ground, and Wolfie has a trick of his own.

"Waaah…"

The first time Caleb saw Benny up close, he understood why everyone seemed afraid of him.

The Primary Six boy was much taller than most students. His shoulders were broad. His voice was loud. Even his footsteps sounded intimidating.

Whenever Benny walked through the school, younger children instinctively moved aside. Nobody wanted trouble. Nobody wanted Benny to notice them.

Unfortunately, Benny noticed almost everyone.

One afternoon, Caleb and Joshua were walking towards the canteen when they spotted a small Primary One boy standing near the drink stall.

The little boy looked worried. A half-eaten curry puff rested in his hands. Benny stood in front of him.

"Give it to me."

The younger boy shook his head. "My grandmother bought it for me."

Benny held out his hand. "I said give it to me."

The boy's eyes immediately filled with tears.

Caleb stopped walking. His stomach tightened. The scene felt familiar. Far too familiar. He remembered his Transformer lunch box. He remembered being pushed. He remembered crying alone in the garden.

Joshua stopped too. His cheerful expression disappeared. For a moment, neither boy spoke. Then Joshua stepped forward.

"Leave him alone."

The words were calm. Simple. Direct.

Benny slowly turned around. The canteen suddenly felt quieter. Several students nearby stopped eating. Others pretended not to look while secretly watching.

Benny stared at Joshua. "You talking to me?"

Joshua nodded.

The older boy laughed. A few of his friends laughed too. "You must be very brave."

Joshua shrugged. "No."

Benny raised an eyebrow. "No?"

Joshua pointed at the younger boy. "He's scared." The boy's hands were shaking. Joshua looked back at Benny. "Someone should help him."

For a second, nobody moved. Nobody spoke. Even Caleb forgot to breathe.

Benny took a step closer. He towered over Joshua. Most children would have backed away. Joshua stayed exactly where he was.

His knees felt weak. His heart was pounding. Even so, he stood his ground.

Across the canteen, Wolfie lifted his head. The husky had been enjoying a peaceful nap beside Teacher Laura. Now his ears stood upright. Something interesting was happening. Very interesting.

Teacher Laura followed Wolfie's gaze. "Oh dear."

Benny folded his arms. "You think you're some kind of hero?"

Joshua thought carefully. Then he shook his head. "No."

The answer caught Benny off guard.

Joshua pointed towards the younger boy. "I just don't think taking someone's food is right."

A few students nearby nodded quietly. Benny noticed. His face darkened. Bullies loved attention. They hated losing it. Especially in front of an audience.

The older boy snatched the curry puff from the younger student's hands. Before anyone could react, Wolfie suddenly appeared. Nobody knew where he came from. One moment he wasn't there. The next moment he was. Like a furry grey-and-white missile.

The husky darted between Benny's legs. SNATCH! The curry puff vanished. Wolfie bolted across the canteen.

Benny stared at his empty hand. The younger students burst out laughing. Joshua laughed. Caleb laughed. Even some teachers struggled not to smile.

Wolfie proudly trotted across the school yard with the stolen curry puff. Teacher Laura placed a hand over her face. "Wolfie." The husky pretended not to hear.

The moment passed. The laughter faded. The students returned to their lunches. Only Benny remained silent. His eyes followed Joshua. Not with anger. Something colder. Something more dangerous. A plan.

Bullies rarely forgot embarrassment. Joshua had challenged him. Joshua had made him look foolish. Benny wasn't the sort of person who simply moved on.

That afternoon, Caleb and Joshua sat beneath their favourite tree. Wolfie lay nearby, happily chewing a dog treat.

"You were really brave," Caleb said.

Joshua stared at the clouds. "I was scared."

Caleb blinked. "You were?"

Joshua nodded. "Very."

Caleb frowned. "You didn't look scared."

Joshua smiled. "My dad says brave people get scared too."

Wolfie rolled onto his back dramatically. Four paws pointed towards the sky. Teacher Laura laughed.

"Your father is right." The boys looked up. Teacher Laura sat beside them. She pointed towards Wolfie. "Do you know why Wolfie trusts people?"

The boys shook their heads.

"Because he knows who he is." Wolfie wagged his tail. Teacher Laura continued. "People who know what is right don't change just because someone bigger comes along."

Joshua thought about that. Caleb thought about it too. Neither boy realised how important those words would become.

As the school bell rang, the boys picked up their bags. Joshua headed towards class. Caleb followed.

A voice stopped him. "Caleb."

The boy froze. Slowly, he turned around. Benny stood alone near the staircase. The smile on his face made Caleb's stomach drop.

"I need to talk to you."

Caleb looked towards Joshua. His friend was already disappearing down the corridor.

Benny stepped closer. "Don't worry." His voice sounded strangely friendly. "I only want a minute."

For reasons he couldn't explain, Caleb suddenly wished Joshua was still standing beside him.

Wolfie stood up. His ears twitched. The husky watched carefully. Very carefully. Something told him this conversation mattered. A lot.

To be continued...