Benny was a horrid little boy who loved to make trouble for everyone. He would pull pranks on his classmates, tease his teachers, and disobey his parents. He thought he was the smartest and funniest person in the world, and he didn’t care about anyone else’s feelings.
One day, he decided to play a trick on his neighbor, Mr. Jones, who was an old man with a big garden. Benny sneaked into his backyard and picked all the flowers, fruits, and vegetables that Mr. Jones had grown with care. He then threw them on the ground and stomped on them, laughing wickedly.
Mr. Jones heard the noise and came out to see what was going on. He was shocked and angry to see Benny destroying his garden. He shouted at him to stop, but Benny just stuck out his tongue and ran away.
Mr. Jones was very sad. He had spent a lot of time and effort to grow his garden, and he was planning to share his produce with his friends and family. He felt like giving up on gardening, but then he had an idea. He decided to teach Benny a lesson that he would never forget.
The next day, Benny was walking home from school when he saw a sign on Mr. Jones’s gate that said “Free Candy”. Benny loved candy, and he thought it was his lucky day. He ran into the backyard, expecting to find a bowl of sweets waiting for him.
But instead of candy, he found a pile of rotten fruits and vegetables that Mr. Jones had collected from his ruined garden. They were covered with dirt, worms, and flies, and they smelled horrible. Benny felt sick and disgusted. He turned around to leave, but then he saw Mr. Jones standing behind him with a stern look on his face.
“Hello, Benny,” Mr. Jones said. “I see you like my candy. Why don’t you have some? It’s free, after all.”
Benny was scared and ashamed. He realized that Mr. Jones had set a trap for him, and that he had fallen for it. He wanted to apologize, but he couldn’t find the words.
Mr. Jones continued, “You know, Benny, you are a very horrid little boy. You have no respect for other people’s property or feelings. You think you can do whatever you want, and get away with it. But you are wrong. Actions have consequences, and sooner or later, you will have to face them. You can’t go on like this, Benny. You need to change your ways, or you will end up in big trouble.”
Benny felt a pang of guilt and regret. He realized that Mr. Jones was right, and that he had been very mean and selfish. He wished he could undo what he had done, but he knew it was too late.
He looked at Mr. Jones with tears in his eyes, and said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Jones. I’m sorry for ruining your garden, and for being a horrid little boy. I don’t want to be like this anymore. I want to be a good boy. Please, can you forgive me?”
Mr. Jones smiled and said, “I’m glad to hear that, Benny. I accept your apology, and I forgive you. But you have to prove that you are sincere, and that you are willing to change. You have to make amends for what you have done, and learn to be kind and respectful to others. Do you understand?”
Benny nodded and said, “Yes, Mr. Jones. I understand. What can I do to make it up to you?”
Mr. Jones said, “Well, for starters, you can help me clean up this mess, and then you can help me replant my garden. It will take a lot of work, but I think you can do it. And maybe, along the way, you will learn to appreciate the beauty and value of nature, and the joy of sharing it with others.”
Benny agreed, and he followed Mr. Jones into his house. He felt a new sense of hope and gratitude. He realized that he had been given a second chance, and he was determined to make the most of it. He decided to be a good boy from now on, and to never be horrid again. so benny had to be like rover the dog