Chapter 5: Humiliated
After recess, Judy sat in her Acting class, interested to hear what the class was going to do. Her teacher, Mrs. Herd, a doe, said they were going to do improv. In other words, acting out a situation, where the students had to do everything out of thin air. Most of the made up scenes were funny, some were confusing, and some were not so good. They did everything from a restaurant, and phone calls, to sports, and many more. After everyone was done, Mrs. Herd told the class to get together and she smiled.
"Okay class. Now before we leave, I would like all of you to say what you want to be when you grow up. Then after that, give each other your thoughts about what the animal's choice was," Mrs. Herd said.
"I want to be a teacher," a sheep said. Everyone said it was a good choice, and agreed with her.
"I want to be a scientist," a moose said cheerfully.
"I want to be a construction worker," a beaver retorted.
"I want to be an astronaut," a wolf said enthusiastically.
"I want to be a car racer," a cheetah said proudly.
Finally, after everyone said what they wanted to be, it was Judy's turn. Judy was excited.
"Judy, it's your turn," Mrs. Herd said. Judy sighed.
"I want to be a police officer," Judy said happily. Silence followed. Nobody said a word. Then, there was laughter.
"You're joking, right?" a hippopotamus asked in between laughs.
"No! I'm serious, I want to be a police officer!" Judy responded, only to receive more laughs.
"There's never been a bunny police officer! How do hope to do that?!" a brown bear retorted.
"Now class, please, calm down! Behave yourselves!" Mrs. Herd said, but the class kept making comments and laughing at Judy.
"A bunny officer? What's she going to do? Write tickets in the shape of carrots?!" a tiger said.
"Maybe she'll ask her partner to help cover for her!" a goat added. As Judy got laughed at and mean comments were said, she quickly realized her classmates weren't trying to challenge or get her to prove herself. Instead, they were laughing at her. But why? She was supportive of everyone else's choices, why couldn't they support her? But no matter what she thought, the comments just kept coming.
"You're too small, you can't do it!"
"You're not strong enough to be an officer!"
"Better stick to something more bunny-friendly!"
"You may hop, but you're not as fast!"
"Should we give you a carrot if we do something wrong?!"
"Is your name tag going to say Officer Bunny?!"
"You can try, but you might as well give up!"
Every mean comment was like needles gently poking at Judy's heart. Why was she getting such negative words? Did nobody really believe she could be a bunny police officer? Soon, the bell rang, Mrs. Herd told her students to apologize to Judy, they did, she accepted the apologizes, and everyone left. As Judy walked down the halls however, she knew the students weren't sorry. Judy got her items ready for her next class, but as she did, she turned around and saw a bear standing in front of her.
"I'm sorry. Please excuse me," Judy said until the bear suddenly grabbed her and pinned her against the locker. He growled deeply, staring at Judy with an angry glare. Judy had no idea what was going on.
"Please, let me go- " Judy said until the bear interrupted her.
"Listen bunny. I don't care what you say! You think you're so special because you want to be a bunny police officer, well, you're wrong. You're small, you're prey, and you're too sensitive! You're not tough enough to be a police officer. The only thing you'll ever do is taking care if vegetables, fruit, and anything else you bunnies do! It doesn't matter what you think. You can try, but it won't work. You'll always be small, vulnerable, sensitive, and weak. Just face it... you aren't brave enough, good enough, or strong enough... Or decent enough," the bear told Judy. She didn't want to listen, but the bear's words upset her. He then got close to her ear and whispered.
"You will never be a police officer. You will always be a small, weak, scared, sad, and unworthy bunny. No matter how hard you want to be a police officer, you'll never get there. You'll only do what you can do. You are not meant to be a police officer... ever!" The bear said before walking away.
Judy sat froze to the spot. Every word she heard told she couldn't be a bunny police officer. That she was not strong, smart, good enough, or unable to become the impossible. Judy just sat in shock as all the mean words sank in. Was this how others saw her? That just because she was going for a goal that was considered impossible, that it could never be done. That the impossible was always impossible? Judy felt hurt. Everyone thought bunnies should never challenge themselves, that something impossible should ever be given a try to be proven wrong. Here, that was what everyone thought. Judy's eyes watered up.
"Is that all I am? Just a bunny meant to not challenge myself?! To not have dreams and try to reach them? Am I not allowed to be anything else?! ... I-I'm not allowed to be me? Am I really not worthy to be a bunny officer?! Am I just... nothing but a bunny?" Judy asked herself as tears went down her cheeks. She ran out of the hallway in tears, and into lounge room. Little did she know that someone else was there too.