Beowulf in the City

Grendel as Gerry

Beowulf as Billy

Hrothgar as Herriot

Billy vs. Gerry

It was a long day on the play-ground and the first graders were getting sick and tired of the third grader named Gerry taking over the jungle gym. Gerry was a bully. Everyday he kicked sand in there faces, stole their toys, and caused havoc on the swinging-bars. First grader, Herriot decided this needed to end. One day Herriot worked up the courage to approach Gerry the terror-causer of the play-zone. Gerry was in the sand-box throwing sand at people as they walked by as usual.

“Can I use the sand-box? You have been hogging it for all of recess and you had it yesterday too. ” Herriot asks.

Gerry says “No.” without even looking at her.

“Please Gerry! You are always hogging everything!” says Herriot.

“Na Na Na Na boo boo stick your head in doo doo!” yells Gerry as he throws sand at Herriot and pulls her pony tail.

Herriot starts to walk away but when the anger and frustration builds up inside her she can not hold back.

“Gerry! You are a mean boy and one day you will pay for the horrible things that you have done to me and my friends!” yells Herriot from across the playground.

“Oh Yeah! What are you going to do freckles?” yells Gerry.

“You’ll see.” Mutters Herriot as she walks away.

Herriot was too small to take control of the situation, so she and her friends asked the biggest boy in the fourth grade to help out. His name was Billy. Billy was a big kid yet a huge fuzzy teddy bear. He learned about the bullying situation and immediately approached Gerry.

“Hey Gerry do you really think it is okay to bully those little girls?” says Billy in a calm manner.

“What do you care about it Billy? Mind your own Bees Wax!” Says Gerry as he continues to terrorize the other children on the play-zone.

“I care a lot about it! It is not right the way you treat them! How would you feel if some meany treated you like that everyday at recess?” exclaims Billy in a stern voice while he steps closer to Gerry.

While this is going on a crowd is forming and people are starting to watch. Including Herriot and her friends who are cheering Billy on as he serves them justice. Gerry stops what he is doing and looks at Billy. 

“I don’t care what you have to say! Lalalalalalala!” said Gerry while sticking his fingers in his ears to plug them shut.

Billy pulls Gerry’s hands down and continues to tell him that he is wrong in what he is doing.

“Whatever!” Gerry shouts.

Gerry grabs a handful of mulch and throws it at Billy. Gerry then walks away. As he walks away Billy comes up behind him and pulls Gerry’s pants down causing him to feel the humiliation that he has been putting on others.

“Na Na Na Na boo boo YOU stick YOUR head in doo doo!” Herriot yells at Gerry as he stands there all red faced with embarrassment.

After the humiliation of being “pantsed” Gerry apologized to everyone and began to play nice with everyone. He shared his sand-toys and even made a generous lunch trade with Herriot. The nice, true Gerry started to come out and everyone liked him and considered him a friend.