Tweedles and Ellie: Handicaps, a Bully, Friends...and a Chicken

By Chip Kirkpatrick

In the heartwarming tale of Tweedles and Ellie, discover the remarkable journey that unfolds when two young girls, facing their own physical challenges, encounter a bully. Rather than succumbing to fear or animosity, they choose a path of compassion and friendship.

This inspiring book is a poignant reminder for anyone who has encountered challenges due to their differences. As Ellie and Grace navigate their physical challenges, they find themselves targeted by Billy’s bullying behaviour. However, Grace possesses a wisdom that allows her to guide her friend in dealing with the hurtful actions of Billy. Together, they embark on a remarkable mission—to forge a bond with the unhappy boy.

As the story unfolds, the power of empathy and understanding emerges. Ellie and Grace extend a hand of friendship to Billy, uncovering the hidden pain that fuels his hurtful actions. Through their unwavering kindness, they guide him on a transformative journey of self-reflection, helping him make amends with the rest of his class.

“Loved it! Don’t change a word!” C.I. (third grade teacher, 30 years)
“Great story! Great message!” B.H. (elementary school principal, 18 years)
“…first time I’ve ever seen a story that also shared the bully’s perspective…” M.C. (third grade teacher, 24 years)
“As a teacher and the mother of a physically challenged child, I really enjoyed this book. And my son liked it too!” C.G. (fifth grade teacher, 11 years)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Apr 26, 2024
• ISBN: 9781035820498

Chip Kirkpatrick

Chip Kirkpatrick lives in Yulee, Florida, with his wife, Grace, three cats, and a small flock of chickens. His hobbies include historical metal detecting, fishing, gardening, chess, poker, and reading a good book.

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to my wife Grace, and my son Chad. Your love, patience, help, and understanding keep me going!

Copyright Information ©

Chip Kirkpatrick 2024

The right of Chip Kirkpatrick to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781035820481 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781035820498 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2024

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

I want to thank the Amelia Island Writers’ WORKS IN PROGRESS group: Marla, Mollie, Linda, Rachel, Jane, Julia, and all of the others, whose advice and guidance helped me to write this. And to Carol Inmon, whose experience as an elementary school teacher gave me valuable insight into that very challenging vocation!

Mr. O’Neal

Thomas O’Neal was a happy man. He had a wonderful wife and a beloved daughter and a good life. He had been a very successful attorney and made a lot of money. But the pressures and stress of the job made him unhappy. The long hours stole away his time with his wife and when their daughter was born, he wanted a change.

He needed a simpler life. He drove his expensive, fancy sports car to a dealership and traded it for a pickup truck. Instead of suits, he wore jeans and tee shirts.

And so he began his new life. He had always enjoyed working with his hands, and knew there was a real need for craftsmen, people who can make or fix things. He was a skilled carpenter and knew how to do plumbing and electrical work too and soon had all the jobs he wanted. Each day was a new venture and occasionally an adventure.

But his heart was always centered on the thirty acres of land he called home. The land was nestled between two hills, which protected his home and land from winds and severe storms. A creek meandered along one of the boundaries of his property. The water was clear and clean with plenty of fish and the water was deep enough to swim and relax.

There was a modest comfortable house, and he was always tinkering with it. He built bookshelves, cabinets and added a big deck and had plans to add two more rooms.

He raised a number of crops and sold them to the local grocery stores and restaurants. There were tomatoes, beans, corn, radishes, pumpkins, watermelons, as well as fruit trees that gave apples, pears, lemons, and a variety of nuts. His fresh produce was believed to be the best tasting locally and he made a good living from his labors.

But the best part of his farm were his animals, which included a horse, several cows and a donkey. There were rabbits, cats, dogs, a pig, geese, and chickens. The milk and eggs were sold to the nearby town’s people to earn additional money. His wife took the cream and made tasty cheeses and pastries that the local restaurants eagerly bought. But many people who bought the vegetables, fruits, berries, and nuts also wanted to buy his animals to eat. At the county fair, his animals and birds often won blue ribbons and he was offered lots of money for them. But he refused because he loved them and did not want them to be eaten. He respected every life, and his animals were allowed to live peaceful, healthy lives. They were parts of the family.

One morning, he entered his chicken coop to collect eggs. There were a variety of chickens that gave white, brown, blue, and even green eggs, depending upon the breed of chickens. The blue and green eggs were always in big demand, even though there was no difference except the color of the shells. As he gathered the eggs he heard the sound of peeping coming from one of the nesting boxes. Callie, his favorite hen, had been brooding on a clutch of her eggs and it seems they had been hatching. To control the numbers and quality of his chickens, each hen was allowed to hatch one brood and it was Callie’s turn. Callie was a beautiful multicolored hen who laid a steady stream of pale blue eggs. She was friendly and gentle and had won his heart soon after she hatched. When she wasn’t sitting on top of her eggs, she would rush to him whenever she saw him.

Then she would perch on his shoulder and gently nuzzle his ears and coo while doing so. He never entered his coop without a cracker or treat for her. And now, she is a mother. She squawked in protest as he gently lifted her from the box and tucked her under one arm and counted the biddies. She wanted to stay on the nest and