One day at school, Doggie was sitting alone on the bench watching the children playing when he thought he heard someone crying. He looked over and saw a small boy with green shorts & orange t-shirt standing alone by himself. Doggie couldn't believe his eyes. What on earth could be wrong?

Doggie climbed down off the bench and moved towards the little boy. All of a sudden, the boy looked up. His little face was dirty and his hair looked like it hadn't been brushed in weeks.

He seemed so sad as he looked at Doggie with tears trickling down his face. "Hello there," said Doggie. "Do you need help?"

The boy shook his head and looked away.

"No! just leave me alone," he sobbed.

"No one likes me and I don't care,"

said the boy.

Doggie didn't know what to do. He really wanted to help him. "What is your name?" asked Doggie. "Peter," answered the boy. "Well Peter, it's nice to meet you. My name is Doggie," he said smiling. "You don't look very happy, but that's Ok. I was just going to have some lunch. Would you like to join me?"

"I don't have any lunch," mumbled the boy. "Oh dear, your mummy didn't make you any lunch?" asked Doggie.

"We didn't have enough money for me to have lunch today," said Peter quietly. "Well, I have enough lunch so we could share if you'd like?" said Doggie.

Peters eyes nearly popped out of his head

with surprise! No one was ever

kind to him. "You would do that?"

asked Peter.

"Yes, sure," replied Doggie. "Come, lets go sit on the bench."

Doggie sat down and Peter watched him unpack his lunch. A big smile spread across Peter's little face when he saw the sandwiches. "Peanut butter &

jelly. You like these?"

asked Doggie. "They are

my favorite," grinned

Peter.

He picked up the sandwich and stuffed the whole thing into his mouth!

"Whoa buddy, not so fast. You don't want to choke! You must be really hungry," Doggie squealed.

The boy gobbled the sandwich down quickly and took another one. "I am, I'm starving!" replied Peter.

Doggie could see that Peter really needed this lunch so he said, "you know what Peter, you eat it all. I'm not that hungry."

"For real?" asked Peter. He could not believe his luck! "Sure," doggie replied. Doggie smiled as Peter chugged down all the sandwiches. "Thanks, Doggie."

Peter seemed much happier now as he chatted

with his new friend.

Peter told Doggie that he had no friends at school and he said that no one seemed to like him.

The other children would call him names like Dirty Bertie, Pete the Gypo, Stinky Pete & so many more.

Doggie felt bad for Peter. "That's very cruel of the other children. It must have been awful for you Peter," Doggie said sadly. "It is," said Peter. "Every day is hard Doggie, it makes me so sad. My mummy just doesn't have enough money to buy me and my sister lunch every day."

"And sometimes there isn't even enough hot water for us to have a bath and get clean. Its not my fault! But the children are still mean to me and call me names. Do you know what's worse, Doggie?"

"No, what?" Doggie asked. "The children are right,

I am stinky Pete. Even I can smell me sometimes!"

"No, No, No, Peter. It's not your fault!" cried Doggie. "It's just not right and even if you think it may be true, there is no need for them to say such mean things to you."

"Those other kids are going to realize that they made a big mistake about you and they will regret being so unkind," Doggie continued.

Doggie looked at the little boy and asked, "why don't I be your friend and I will try and help you?"

"You would do that, for me? I don't even know you!" said Peter. "Yes of course," Doggie replied. Peter felt his little heart smile so big it felt like it

would burst!

Peter thought this was the best day ever! He couldn't wait to go home and tell his mummy and sister about his new friend. Soon it was time to go back to class.

Doggie gave Peter a big hug and said, "Ok my little friend, I will see you tomorrow."

"Yes, yes," said Peter, "and Doggie?"