Ewan
McDairmad's School for Boys was a busy place. Boys ran about all day
long, except when they were in class, or studying.
April 1st
was a school holiday. The boys climbed into a big yellow bus and headed
for the park. They were going to have a picnic and watch a game of
football.
Their
headmaster, Mr. Crawford, told the boys that if they behaved, they would
get a special surprise at the end of the day. All the boys did their
best until they got to the football match. The bench they were to sit on
was only big enough for ten boys, but there were twelve of them;
Gillespie, Hamish, Innes, Kade, Kendrew, Leith, Mirren, Nairn, Niall,
Payton, Roslin and Struan.
When
the headmaster told them to sit quietly, the twelve boys ran to the
wooden bench. All of them fit nicely except Roslin and Struan. There
just wasn't enough room.
The
headmaster stood talking to one of the football players and didn't see
Payton push the two younger boys off the bench.
Roslin
and Struan kept trying to climb and squeeze next to Payton, but he kept
pushing them off.
The
headmaster turned around and saw the two boys on the ground and let
Roslin and Struan sit on the bench.
When
they were having the picnic Payton took Roslin and Struan's cucumber
sandwiches and ate them himself.
That
night all the boys, except Payton, got to have a special surprise,
chocolate covered biscuits.
The
headmaster took him into the other room and explained that anyone who
attended Ewan McDiarmad's School for Boys should never push or bully the
younger boys.
Payton
felt sad. He told the headmaster he would never do it again and
apologized to Roslin and Struan. The headmaster was pleased and gave
Payton a biscuit after all.
