Tumi & the Wizbiz Kids

By Ingrid Keizan

After Tumis dream experience, he regains his confidence and self-belief. Tumi and his friends, the Wizbiz Kids, undertake a special mission to teach the bullies, also known as the Nasties, the benefits of kindness and being caring.

With encouragement from Tau, the wise and magical lion, Tumi and the Wizbiz Kids show the Nasties that there is more to friendship than cruelty and bullying.

This story aims at teaching children to empower themselves using tools of love and compassion.

After years of carrying childrens best interests at heart and understanding their behaviour, the author aims to show children that we live in a world filled with possibilities and solutions, as opposed to a world filled with obstacles and problems.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Africa
• Release date: Sep 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9781482803211

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

T umi and his best friends, Shaine, Richard and Alfie arranged to meet each other on the beach the day before school was due to start. They were all so happy to be together again and couldn’t wait to share their holiday experie nces.

Richard, who was usually very calm and laid-back about everything was aching to tell his friends about the holiday that he’d spent in Johannesburg with Bongani.

How is Bongani? Shaine asked, Is he happy in Johannesburg and does he miss us?

Bongani’s great said Richard, he’s still learning karate and he’s made some new friends, but he says we will always be his best buddies. He misses us very much.

Bongani was the born leader of the group and while he was around, Richard, Shaine, Tumi and Alfie always felt safe because he was learning karate. The big, scary children known as The Nasties who caused a lot of trouble for everyone at school never caused trouble for Shaine, Alfie, Tumi or Richard while Bongani was around. But Bongani left their school in Durban and he went to live in Johannesburg with his parents. The children missed Bongani terribly but at least Richard could now fill them in on Bongani’s life; so they eagerly listened to what Richard had to say.

We visited these huge shopping centres in Johannesburg and we went to the zoo. I went with Bongani to his karate lessons, and to the movies and then his parents took us to the Lion Park. Bongani still loves Durban and he misses the sea a lot was what Richard could tell them.

It sounds like you had the best time ever, said Tumi.

Shaine, did you enjoy working at the animal rehabilitation centre on your holiday? asked Alfie.

It was great, said Shaine, I got to feed baby birds and there was a monkey there called Alfie; can you believe that? He didn’t wear glasses like you, Alfie, and he couldn’t read as well as you do. The children laughed and she continued to tell them how naughty the monkey called Alfie could be. Some visitors had come to the rehabilitation centre to see how it was run but Alfie had opened a lady’s handbag and stolen a packet of sweets. He ran away, climbed onto the roof of the centre and sat happily eating the sweets until the packet was empty. This was so funny, everyone just laughed and laughed, said Shaine.

What did you do during the holidays, Alfie? asked Tumi. Did you also eat sweets on a roof?

No said Alfie rather shyly, adjusting his glasses, I went with my parents to the Umfolozi Game Reserve.

Did you see any lions or elephants? asked Shaine in a very excited tone of voice. Yep said Alfie, we saw so many different kinds of animals – there was a pride of lions lying near a big dam. Some of them were chewing on bones from a zebra carcass.

Did you see them catch the zebra? asked Tumi. No, and I’m happy about that because I’d feel sorry for the poor zebra, even though it’s natural for lions to catch other animals and eat them said Alfie. We also saw elephants and heaps of giraffes. It was fun, but the best fun was that my dad taught me some self-defence. I learned a little Judo and some boxing.

Awesome! said Richard, Maybe we’ll be able to put The Nasties in their place!

The Nasties were a group of children at school who always caused a lot of trouble for everyone. They were big bullies who never cared how they behaved. They were rude to their teachers, who had become desperate because they couldn’t discipline these children. The teachers at school had tried to contact The Nasties’ parents, but this was useless as some of their parents wouldn’t believe the teachers when they were told about their kids’ bad behaviour. The rest of The Nasties’ parents didn’t even bother to come to school and speak to the teachers.

This group of children created real trouble for Tumi and his friends. They constantly teased Tumi about being a blue person, and they threatened to hurt him. The Nasties had broken Alfie’s glasses and had hit him. They’d put chewing gum in Shaine’s beautiful long hair. Richard’s schoolbooks were thrown into the sand, and when Richard tried to dust off the sand, The Nasties splashed him and his schoolbooks with water. These were only some of the mean pranks that The Nasties got up to.

Their leader’s name was Erol and he strutted about as if he owned everything and everybody. The other children in The Nasties followed Erol around as if he was their king and they did whatever he said, no matter what. It seemed to Tumi that The Nasties were stuck together by invisible, strong glue.

Shadrack was part of this group. He was as broad as he was tall and always seemed to be eating. He wobbled as he walked and looked like a big, round jelly on a plate. He hardly ever left Erol’s side he followed Erol around like a lost puppy. He took food away from the children at school by grabbing their sandwiches or packets of crisps. He usually gobbled down the food before the poor children even noticed, and they were left standing around in absolute shock.

Emily was one of the girls from The Nasties. She behaved like a boy, had long hair and dressed in boy’s clothes. Emily was best known for putting gooey chewing gum into the children’s hair and for throwing it into their school bags.

Denis, another boy from The Nasties group was very rude; he never greeted anyone and he was always mean to the teachers. Then there was Mbuso, who also followed Erol around like a puppy. Tumi thought that while Mbuso could be very naughty, he was funny because he always gave the wrong answers to questions asked in the class by teachers.

Tumi and his friends dreaded going back to school. Wouldn’t it be great if we arrived at school to find that Erol, Shadrack, Emily, Denis and Mbuso were expelled? said Shaine.

School would be much more fun if we didn’t have to worry about The Nasties. said Richard. I wish I could tell my parents about The Nasties, maybe they could help, but I’m scared that if I do, they’ll think I’m a ‘baby’. I might get into trouble.

Shaine was also worried and said, That’s not all that would happen! If you told your parents, The Nasties might find out and that would only make more trouble for us.

Tumi listened to his friends’ thoughts and fears, and he became more and more uncomfortable. The situation hadn’t improved. If anything, everyone was even more scared of going back to school.

My dad would think I was a real ninny if he heard that Mbuso had broken my glasses and I couldn’t even fight him off said Alfie with a slight quiver in his voice.

So what did you tell your father when your glasses were broken? Shaine asked.

I just said they fell into the sand and I stepped on them by mistake but I feel awful that I had to tell my dad a lie said Alfie, feeling rather ashamed.

Shaine, when Emily pulled your hair and a big chunk fell out, what did you tell your parents? asked Tumi.

My mom never noticed but when Emily put chewing gum in my hair, my mom was furious. She doesn’t know about The Nasties, she just thinks that Emily is a naughty child, replied Shaine.

What about you, Tumi? asked Shaine. Shadrack stole your sandwiches, tore your shirt and then pushed you onto the ground. What did you tell your mom when she saw your torn shirt?

I told her a lie too. I said that I’d fallen because someone had unintentionally pushed me. I felt awful telling my mom a lie but I’m not going to tell my parents lies ever again. I’m going to be honest and tell them whatever I need to. They’re my friends Tumi blurted out.

Good for you, Tumi. You’ve got a good reason because everyone teases you about being blue said Shaine.

Yes I know Tumi replied, but I’m special and I’m not going to take any notice of that anymore. Did you know that I was so unhappy about everything at the end of last term that I thought you guys didn’t want to be my friends any more.

The three children looked surprised. How could you ever think anything like that? asked Richard. You’re our very best friend, Tumi, and we stick together no matter what, said Shaine adamantly.

Yes, Tumi, even if you were orange you would still be our best friend, said Alfie. Richard and Shaine nodded in agreement and smiled.

Are you sure about that? asked Tumi, Because I’ve done something you might all dislike me for. And I had something funny happen to me that I need to tell you all about. Are you all really sure about our friendship? asked Tumi rather hesitantly.

Of course we are said Shaine, we’re friends to the end. Richard and Alfie nodded their heads and said friends to the end!

So what have you done, Tumi? asked Alfie with great curiosity.

Tumi looked at each of his friends in turn and then proceeded to tell them: I told my mommy everything, and my dad knows too. They both know all about The Nasties and the horrible time they give us.

There was a stunned silence. Richard was the first to talk. What? You mean that you told them and they didn’t think it was your fault?

No replied Tumi.

Did you tell your parents about the mean rhymes The Nasties made up about you? You know that one: little blue boy, little blue boy, you don’t look like a person you look like a toy? asked Shaine who was very impressed that Tumi could be so brave. Alfie, who was absolutely shocked at Tumi’s news, remained silent with his mouth agape.

I told my mommy everything, said Tumi. She was surprised to hear how badly The Nasties behave. I’m quite sure there will be something she will be able to help us with. She taught me magical words to help me feel braver.

What are the words? asked Alfie coming out of his shocked state.

The words are: I am special, I am loved. I am abundant as the stars up above, said Tumi loudly and clearly.

I like that said Shaine in her enthusiastic way. "Please teach me. So it’s I am special. I am a dove? Hang on,