The Adventures of

MegaMan
And the Bully

Written and Illustrated by

Jay Strauss
 Dedication
November 13, 2006

Ever since I was in high school, somehow, I knew someday I was destined to write. Even
in the last 20 years, I have produced many of my own business letters, correspondences,
brochures, and edited many of my wife’s school letters.

In 9th grade, I tried to write a short story. When it was read in class however, I was
heartily laughed at. Needless to say that ended my writing career for the next 45 years. In
those days at the tender age of 15, I was not in tune to emotions, and thus my writing was
flat. It was only the first decanter of my life, and I had not yet developed my powers of
observation or a sense of human behavior.

I have entered the third (20 year) decanter of my life presently at age 63, and I’m a
grandfather who is about to retire from a career in sales. I think I’ve been given a chance
to re-live my childhood. This time around, however, I would like to share it with others. It
was a chore for me, and I would venture to guess for most other parents, grandparents,
aunts, uncles, etc, to make up stories on the spot, but they still want to share their lives
with their own children or grandchildren, nieces or nephews. Bedtime stories provide a
way to achieve that desire, and bring us a step closer to the ones we love. Of course I
cannot stress more the importance of having a great relationship with my loving wife
Susan providing, caring, encouragement, and support allowing me to become the person
who is writing this today. She’ll ask me “ Where do you get your ideas” My answer
“ They just pop into my head, and I write them down.” This morning, some new ideas
came to me as I was out on my morning walk, and I couldn’t wait to get back to my desk
and put ink to paper.
**
These stories however, are dedicated to my grandchildren, Andy, Penny & Bella. If not
for them and a recent visit when I was asked to make up a super hero bedtime story, I
would not be writing children’s illustrated bedtime stories at all. Additional thanks goes
to my son, Don, who encouraged me to tell Andy, my 5 year old grandson, a bedtime
story that night. He said, “go ahead, Dad.” “You used to tell us the best stories ever,”
and my reply was, “WHO ME??” (believe me, that was not logged into my memory),
“Yes Dad ” he replied, “You told me terrific bedtime stories when I was Andy’s age.”

AND thus the seeds of change were planted.

Jay Strauss
 Prologue

When I was growing up as a kid, If you got bullied, you could complain to your
parents or your teacher, but in general your problem was falling on deaf ears
unless you were really injured, and could show off the proof.

That’s what happened to me one day at about age 7 or 8, not sure exactly. I
had recently moved to a new neighborhood, and had not found any friends.
There was a small group of immediate neighborhood kids who lived behind
my house, and they invited me to play with them. I thought we had become
friends until one day they tied me to a telephone pole. They rubbed the
inside back of my knee with the rough backside of a leather belt; similar to
what a shoe shine boy would do, only they weren’t shining my shoes.

Needless to say, I was emotionally hurt as well as physically injured. I went

home and reported the event to my parents who then called the offender’s
parents. I heard one of the boys father really took it hard, and metered out
severe punishment. I never saw or spoke to those kids again.

Today, it’s being reported ubiquitously that kids are being bullied. It’s ABOUT
TIME !
A recent article by Robert Roy Britt, Live Science writer was posted in April
2005. He claims a new study of children identifies what creates playground
bullies. YUP - It’s the T V! Conversely, those children whose parents are more
pro-active and spent more time with their four year olds tend to be less
pushy.

GEE, that was NOT the case in 1950. TV could NOT be blamed for my
experience. Personally, I can’t relate to that study, but I can’t negate it either.

Other studies, he writes, indicate that 30% of ALL U.S. school children get
bullied.
In some cases as high as 80%. Kids reported harassment at least once in a 2
week period. The study goes on to say that kids who are bullied tend to
develop antisocial and depressive behavior. It is further suggested that just
watching T V by itself is not the problem, but VIOLENCE on TV might lend a
hand, including violent cartoons. Adults realize that kids under five can’t
comprehend what it means to punch some one and cause them pain.
Cartoons frequently display punching and pushing or getting flattened by a
heavy object and the target just stands up and shakes it off.
Be that as it may-- THAT’S CARTOONS, and we all grew up watching them.

It still doesn’t explain what happened to me in 1950, and I’m sure billions of
other kids since time began. So, what’s the solution? NO one really has the
answer, because kids will be kids. Now there are gangs for kids to deal with
also, and that makes it even harder to grow up without incident. This story
provides one possible solution. Sure, I could write a number of outcomes, but
just the fact that it’s being acknowledged by more and more people, even up
to the level of the White House, means HOPEFULLY we might be moving in
the right direction to possibly alleviate those stressful events in our children’s
lives.

Mom, I’m not going to school today, I really don’t feel well.

Gee, Andy, do you have a temperature?

I’m not sure, what does that feel like?

Well, you would feel hot and maybe sweaty.

I don’t want to feel sweaty !! that’s yucky ! ! !

Let me feel your forehead.

I can usually tell if your temperature is elevated.

What’s elevated?
Are we going up to Daddy’s office in his elevator?
NO, it just means a higher temperature than normal.
Hmmm, you feel OK to me.

By the way, did you like the special cookies I put in your
lunch?

Ummm, I didn’t eat them.

Why Not ? Andy.

AAAHHH, They were too soggy.

How did they get that way? I wrapped them in special

baggies.

GEE Mom - I don’t remember, they just came out that way.

Ok, no problem, I’ll wrap you some more if you get up and go
to

school today, your temp feels normal.

That’s OK Mom, I really don’t want to eat much today
anyway.

Huh, what’s that? You’re always coming home from school,

and devouring a snack. Sometimes you can’t even wait for
dad to come home for dinner. Then I have to make
something special for you. What’s this about not being
hungry?
Have you been skipping lunch?
Yeh, Sometimes. Lunch at school is a not fun.
Too many rules and things to remember.

Really now ? Andy ,

Is there something going on that your not telling me?

NOPE !!

That was quick. What do you mean by “ Nope ”?

AAHHHH !! - No t h i n g really, --- Its not important.

Just Nothing? Not Important ?

That’s an awful big word for a small kid.

Yeh. That’s another thing. I wish I was much bigger TOO . !!

Well, maybe something is wrong.

Ok, Like what ? If you don’t me asking?

Well, Billy takes my lunch and he gives it to his friends,

Then he threatens to beat me up if I tell anyone.

Billy WHO????

You don’t know him. He’s new and I really don’t know him
either. He lives far away and comes on bus # 4. I run away
when I see him.
The sooner I get inside and out of sight, the safer I feel.

Gee, Andy, Don’t any of your other friends have this

problem?
Yes, Billy bothers everyone.
What do the other kids do?

The same thing. --- We all RUN and HIDE from him.
Well now, maybe we can get MegaMan to come by and see
what he can do to stop this behavior. He can talk to this Billy
and set him straight. You have as much right to be outside
and play where ever you like as anyone else. And you also
have a right not to be harassed by that kind of bullying.

MegaMan had heard this type of story before, and was really
concerned about kids under stress due to bullying. But what
could he do for them? MegaMan can’t be everywhere. Of
course, kids can find web sites where they can get info on
handling bullies, but that’s not really sufficient when your
out in the playground and some one gets in your face.
Gee, MegaMan,
How can we get that kind of help at the moment we need
it ??

Well Andy, It looks like kids are going to have to learn how to
become self reliant.

But just what does that mean? I can’t beat up a bigger kid by
myself, and even if I could, I really wouldn’t even want to. I
can’t keep running away, He’ll just continue to bother me at
another time, or even worse chase after me, and beat me up
right away.
MegaMan said “I think I know what might work”. All the kids
in school know who to avoid and who their friends are.
Right?

Suuure. Well, pretty sure.

Ask those friends to join a shared self help group.

You can call it “FRIENDS FOR LIFE “.

That way you will have a group who will watch out for each
other.
It will be just enough of a force to offer support when ANY of
you are targeted by a bully.
IF any on you catches sight of another kid in of need, the
group can get together ON THE SPOT and support the one
being picked on. That type of group action can often
frighten a bully to back off.

Adults do the same thing. I guess you could call it bullying

back, but in a supportive way rather than threatening. Of
course, these support groups will have to get the assistance
of the Teachers, Staff, and PTA. We can even ask them to
provide treats and rewards. That way the bullies will know
they are up against more than just a few kids with big ideas.
IN FACT
There is antiharassment federal legislation H.R. 3787 in
Congress waiting to be passed which enables children in
public schools to report bullies to teachers and requires
administrators to investigate. WE really need to spread the
word so this bill will benefit kids for generations to come.
This is where MegaMan will play his part. He will take on the
role of organizer, and get the adults to understand who“
Friends for Life” is and what they are trying to do.

This reminds me of Desert Storm in 1990 when a large group

of world powers took up arms against a bully named Saddam
Hussein from Iraq. He attacked another country called
Kuwait. Iraq was much bigger, and had a much stronger
army . Iraq wanted their oil just like Billy who wants your
lunch.

Do you remember that? Of course not. You weren’t born

yet.
Thanks MegaMan, I’m sure some of my friends will join the
group. Maybe you can convince my Mom, and PTA, to
provide for the rewards and treats.

What kids don’t like special treats?

Ice cream, cookies, brownies, - yummy, yum yum.

Or maybe going to the movies, bowling, or pizza.

Less stress – More fun- Hooray, Hooray!!

That sounds really great!!

“Friends For Life” - What a great idea. - Lets do it.

Thanks again, MegaMan, - You’re The BEST - Ever.