In a cheerful little town called Willow Hill, there lived a boy named Benny. But unlike the other children who liked to laugh and play together, Benny was often mean.
He pushed in line.
He called people names.
And worst of all—he laughed when others got hurt.
Because of this, the other kids didn’t like playing with him. They’d whisper, “Here comes Benny the bully…” and run the other way.
One day at school, a new boy named Leo joined the class. He wore round glasses and carried a big backpack full of books.
When Benny saw Leo, he snorted. “What’s with the big backpack? Got a library in there?”
Some kids giggled nervously, but Leo just smiled. “Nope! Just books I love. Want to see one?”
Benny blinked. No one had ever answered him kindly like that before.
“I… I guess,” he mumbled.
Leo pulled out a book with shiny stars on the cover. “It’s about a dragon who learns to be brave.”
Something in Benny’s chest felt strange. Warm. Curious.
At recess, Benny followed Leo around. “Why don’t you mind when I tease you?” he asked.
Leo shrugged. “My grandma says people who are unkind are usually hurting inside. So I just try to be nice.”
That night, Benny couldn’t sleep. He thought about the times he laughed when kids fell. Or when he said mean things just to get attention.
Was he hurting inside? Maybe a little. His big brother had moved away last year, and Benny missed him more than he told anyone.
The next morning, Benny walked up to a girl he had teased before. “Hey, um… sorry for calling you names,” he said awkwardly. “That wasn’t cool.”
Her eyes widened. “It’s okay… I guess,” she said, surprised.
Then Benny sat with Leo and actually read the book about the brave dragon. He even laughed at the funny parts—not at people, but with them.
As days passed, Benny smiled more. He helped more. And slowly, the other kids stopped calling him a bully.
They just called him Benny—their friend.
Looking for more heartwarming tales? Explore our collection of Short Stories for Children that teach love, courage, and kindness.