Rupert and the Wooden Airplanes
CHAPTER 5
The next day, Freddy and Ferdy had gone off to do something else, leaving Rupert by himself. He was inside his home, playing a solitaire game with cards on the kitchen table while his mother was busy cleaning the kitchen counter. It was a game Rupert never beat before, and playing the last king in the deck made him joyful, "Wow, first time I beat that game."
"That's nice darling, but don't you think maybe you shouldn't be sitting inside on a beautiful Sunday?" asked Mrs. Bear, "It's nice and sunny out there, and I also see that more snow has melted."
"What's the use? It's not like I have anyone to enjoy it with," said Rupert.
Mrs. Bear was confused, "Rupert Bear, why on earth would you say something like that? You always had lots of friends."
"Thing is Mum, ever since Freddy and Ferdy came to live with us my life changed," explained Rupert, "I only wanted to do what was right for them, but it all came at the expense of my other friendships. Everyone else that I know now thinks of me as a bad kid, and it doesn't make sense because I never did anything wrong."
"Sometimes it isn't enough to be a good person Rupert," his mother told him, "There are also going to be times when we have to be willing to stand up for what we believe in. Not everyone will agree to your ideas of morality."
"I understand, but how can I convince the others that I am still the same old Bear they've always known, and remain friends with the Foxes?" asked Rupert.
"I'm afraid that is something that you will have to figure out on your own," said Mrs. Bear, "One thing you should remember is that most of us have only known Freddy and Ferdy for the fact that they never behaved their best, and it can be difficult to accept that they are still just people like you and me, even after what happened to them. But there are also well-behaved people in our world that have made bad decisions as well, and whether or not they should be punished for their actions, the fact is those people will only be as bad as we want to believe they are. Only by taking the time to see the goodness inside those people can we view them for something other than the way we know them."
"But certainly Mum, it is our choices that matter most," replied Rupert, "Freddy and Ferdy would have had friends long ago if they had been nicer to others before their kitchen fire."
"That would be true," started Mrs. Bear, "but only the lessons learned from the past can be the determination of our future. And as much as you can try to make Freddy and Ferdy into better kids, the truth is they are the ones who must have the will to change, no matter how kind you are to them."
His mother's words resonated well, as they reminded Rupert of a discussion he had with Bill right before they parted. Perhaps the snowball fight, even for its friendly nature, was a sign that the Fox brothers were not going to change their ways simply because of their acceptance of Rupert's friendship. Truth was, they were not much different in attitude as they would have been if they were throwing snowballs in a spiteful manner.
"So what you're saying is, if Freddy and Ferdy do change for the better, then it's nothing for which I can reward myself for," said Rupert, "Then I guess Bill was right, I shouldn't have put that much effort into it if it isn't entirely my effort that does anything."
"Well don't discourage yourself from at least trying to be friends with them. Only time will tell if it was ever meant to be," said his mother, "but even if you do remain their friends, there are still going to be differences between you and like anyone else you have had for a friend it will be something you have to be accepting of."
Just then the doorbell rang. "I can get it," said Mr. Fox, who was in the sitting room reading the newspaper. He opened the door to see Bill Badger with a football in his hand. "Hello, here for Rupert I believe?"
"Well it can be either him or your sons that I'll have a word with," said Bill who sounded cross in his tone of voice.
"Freddy and Ferdy aren't here right now, but Rupert is," replied Mr. Fox, "Rupert, Bill is here to see you!"
"What does he want?" Rupert asked himself as he went into the sitting room. Knowing that they are no longer friends, he couldn't help but think that this wasn't a good thing.
"Hello Bill," he said coldly.
"All right Rupert, tell me what is this all about," Bill started as he showed him the ball in his hands, which looked as if it had been used before. His face was unhappy.
"Whatever prank that Freddy and Ferdy played on you this morning, I had nothing to do with it," replied Rupert.
"Are you sure, this note might say otherwise," said Bill as he presented a piece of paper. Rupert took the note from his hands and read it out loud.
Dear Bill,
Thank you for buying us those wooden airplanes, thay are relly neat. And also, we are sorry that we got in the way of your frendship to Rupurt. He told us everything last night and we hope that you can take our football as our way of making things up to you, well that is until we buy you a new one sinse the store isn't open on Sunday. You can trade us back at school.
We are being onnest, please believe us,
Freddy and Ferdy
"Those spelling errors leave me no doubt that they wrote that note Rupert," said Bill.
"And this piece of paper definitely looks like it came from our desk," said Rupert, "I was wrong Bill, I did have something to do with this."
"Not in a bad way, and I actually wouldn't mind keeping this ball since it doesn't look all that used," said Bill, "Fortunately the snow melted on the field enough for me to gather the others for a little game. Would you care to join us?"
"Only if this means that you like me," answered Rupert.
"Like you? Rupert, that's such an understatement," Bill said as he put his hand on Rupert's shoulder, "You are one of the best friends anybody could have," Bill let the ball roll onto the floor as he and Rupert embraced into a hug.
"Oh Bill, I'm so glad we're friends again," said Rupert.
"So am I Rupert, so am I." said Bill as they continued to hug each other. Tears of joy flowed from each others eyes, as the division created between them had finally been put to rest.
Freddy and Ferdy walked through the door and were a little unnerved by Rupert and Bill's unusual show of affection. "Oh please, we just wanted to mend things up, we didn't say you had to get married," said Ferdy.
"Relax you two, we're just happy for what you have done," said Bill as he wiped a tear away, "Tell you want, in the good of it all, why don't you two come and play with us? I promise that no one will object, and after all, it is your ball we're using."
"Nah, Ferdy and I have something else to do besides play with you turkeys. Come on Ferdy." Freddy and Ferdy go back outside the house.
"I wonder what kind of trouble those two are thinking up?" asked Bill.
"Never mind Bill, all I know is that things appear to be going back to normal like you said it would." Rupert and Bill laugh as the leave for the playing field. It was indeed going back to normal for Rupert as he once again had the same friends he had before Friday. And while the Fox brothers may never be Rupert's friends again, at least Rupert knew that it was his kindness to them that made it possible for him to have his life back.
THE END