“It’s my Granny’s birthday this week,” said a small girl, getting up. “I want to send her a card. Could I have extra money to buy it with, and for the stamp, too?” “No,” said William, “That should come out of your two shillings. Not granted. Any more requests?” There were none, Elizabeth knew that the time for complaints or grumbles would come next, and she went red with excitement. William said a few words to Rita about something and then knocked for silence again.
“Any complaints or grumbles?” he asked. Elizabeth stood-and so did Robert-but Robert was just half a second before her.
“You first, Robert,” said William. “Sit down and take your turn next, Elizabeth.” Elizabeth didn’t sit down. She didn’t mean to let Robert speak first, “Oh, please, William!” she said. “I have such a serious complaint to make.” “Well, it will keep,” said William, “Sit down.” “But William, it’s about Robert,” began Elizabeth again, her voice rising.
“Elizabeth, do as you’re told,” ordered Rita, “You will have plenty of time to say all you want to.” There was nothing for it but to sit down. Elizabeth was very angry. She glared at Robert, who didn’t look at her at all, but stood patiently waiting to speak.
“Well, Robert, what have you to say?” asked William. “I hope this isn’t telling tales,” began Robert in a rather apologetic voice, “but I really must complain about Elizabeth Allen’s behaviour to me. I have always tried to be fair to her.
“Oooooh!” cried Elizabeth indignantly. “You know you haven’t! You’ve . , “Silence, Elizabeth!” ordered William sharply. “You can say all you want to say in a minute, Don’t interrupt. Go on, Robert.” Elizabeth was boiling with rage. Joan put her hand on her friend’s arm to try and calm her, but Elizabeth shook it off. Just wait till she had her turn to speak! “I’ve always tried to be fair to her,” went on Robert in a very polite voice, “But really, 11 can’t let her pull my hair out and slap me in the face,” There was an astonished silence, Everyone looked at Elizabeth. Robert went on, pleased at the surprise he had caused.
“I’ve got some of the hairs she pulled out in this envelope to show you, William, in ease you don’t believe me. And there are two or three children who will tell you it really happened. Of course, as she’s a girl, I couldn’t hit her back. I know she was supposed to be the naughtiest girl in the school last term, and . . .” “You can leave that out, Robert, It has nothing to do with this,” said William at once, “We have always found Elizabeth to be just and fair and kind so far, no matter how naughty she once was. Will you please tell us why Elizabeth did these extraordinary things?” “She didn’t want me to swing somebody,” said Robert, “She’s always interfering with me, whatever I do, She laughs if I make a mistake in class. Well, never mind about that. I was just swinging Peter, and he was squealing with excitement, and she came and pulled out my hair, slapped me and punched me.” “Thank you,” said William. “Sit down, Elizabeth, perhaps you would like to tell us if these complaints are true, Did you pull out Robert’s hair and slap him?” Elizabeth stood up, her cheeks as red as fire and her eyes flashing. “Yes, I did!” she said, “And he deserved it! I wish I’d pulled out more of his hair. I wish . .
“That’s enough, Elizabeth,” said Rita, at once. “II you can’t control yourself enough to tell us properly what happened, there’s no use in your saying anything.” Elizabeth knew she was being silly. She tried her hardest to be sensible, “Please, Rita, I’ll tell my story properly.” she said “Then you’ll see why If got so angry, and perhaps you’ll say I was right to lose my temper with Robert. I was going to see my rabbits, when I heard somebody squealing out. It was Peter on the swing, and he was shouting to Robert not to swing him so high, because he was frightened.” “Go on,” said William gravely.
“Wel1, I rushed to stop the swing, and Robert sent me right over,” said Elizabeth, feeling her temper rise again as she told what had happened. “I got up and flew at Robert to stop him swinging Peter again, because he was quite green and I thought he would fall off. And oh, William and Rita, that’s not the only time that Robert has bullied the younger ones. He’s a real bully, unkind and mean–” There was a silence again. Everyone in the school knew quite well that a very serious thing had happened. Which of the two children was right? Bullying was hateful. Bad temper and fighting were wrong.
Joan was very upset. She knew quite well that Elizabeth had made up her mind to be good and do as well as she could this term, and now here was the hot4empered girl flying into trouble almost at once! It was just no good trying to stop her. If Elizabeth saw something unfair she would rush at it in a temper and try to put it right that way. Joan couldn’t see how this matter could be put right.
William and Rita spoke together in low voices. The Jury discussed the matter, too. Robert sat on his form, not even red in the face, He did not look at Elizabeth.
William knocked for silence. “We would like to ask the boys and girls who saw the affair to report on it,” he said, “Who saw it?” Three children stood up. They said shortly that they had seen the hairs that Elizabeth had pulled out and had seen how red Robert’s face was where it had been slapped.
“Did Robert hit back at all?” asked Rita.
“Not that we saw,” said Kenneth, and sat down, feeling sorry for Elizabeth.
“And now we will ask Peter to tell us what happened,” said William in a kindly tone. “Stand up, Peter, and answer my questions.” The small nine-year-old Peter stood up. His knees shook beneath him, and he felt dreadful to have the eyes of the whole School on him.
“Was Robert swinging you high?” asked William Peter looked across at Robert. Robert gave him a queer look. Peter spoke in a trembling voice. “Yes-he was swinging me quite high.” “Were you frightened?” asked William “N-no-no,” said Peter.
“Did you squeal for help?” asked Rita, “No,” said Peter, with a look at Robert. “I was just- just squealing for fun, you know,” “Thank you,” said William. “Sit down.” Elizabeth leapt up. “Robert must have made Peter promise to say all that!” she cried. “Ask if there are any other young ones who would like to complain about Robert, Rita,” Rita looked round to where the younger children sat. “Is there anyone who has a complaint to make about Robert?” she asked. “If he has been unkind to you, or ill-treated you in any way, speak now.” Elizabeth waited for half a dozen children to stand up and speak. But there was a complete silence! Nobody spoke, nobody complained. What a very strange thing! Now what was going to happen?
Elizabeth IS VERY CROSS.
The complaints to the School Meeting were so serious that the two Judges and the Jury took a long time to discuss them, In the meantime the rest of the children also discussed the matter among themselves, Not many of them were for Robert, for he was not liked, but on the other hand most of the boys and girls felt that Elizabeth had no right to lose her temper so fiercely.
“And after all,” whispered one child to another, “she was the naughtiest girl in the school last term, you know.” “Yes. We used to call her the Bold Bad Girl,” said another child, “But she was quite all right after the half-term, She really did turn over a new leaf,” “And I know quite well that she meant to do her very best this term,” said Harry. “I’ve heard her say so heaps of times. She lost her temper with me last term, but she said she was sorry arid has been absolutely decent to me ever since,” So the talk went on, whilst Elizabeth and Robert sat up straight, hating one another, each longing to hear that the other was to be punished.
Meanwhile, the Judges and Jury were finding things very difficult. Some of the Jury felt quite certain that Robert was a real bully-and yet not even Peter would complain, so maybe there was not much truth in what they thought. All the monitors on the Jury were fair-minded and just, and they knew quite well that they must never judge anyone unless they had real, clear proof of wrong-doing.
Again, all the Jury knew quite well how bad Elizabeth had been the term before, and yet how marvellously she had managed to conquer herself and turn over a new leaf.