When a Child Pushes Everyone Away: Rory’s Story | Glimmerwood Middle School

Sometimes a child’s hardest behavior is protecting a much softer feeling underneath.

A child who seems angry, distant, or determined not to need anyone may be carrying questions they don’t know how to ask: Do they really see me? Would anyone notice if I were hurting? And when those questions go unanswered for too long, pushing people away can begin to feel safer than hoping they will come closer.

That doesn’t mean every wall should be forced down. Sometimes what a child needs most is someone willing to remain nearby—patiently noticing, listening, and reminding them through small, consistent moments that they matter.

Today in Glimmerwood, Rory discovers that running away from everyone doesn’t necessarily quiet the feelings he’s trying to escape. And an unexpected conversation with the Tree of Wisdom leaves him with something he wasn’t expecting: a story he can’t quite stop thinking about.

 

Rory walked slowly, pondering his next step as ear-piercing magpie caws wailed through the trees. He was on the right path, but he dreaded what was waiting for him.

“Hi, son! How was your first day?” asked his dad while reading the weekly Glimmerwood Village News.

“Fine,” murmured Rory. He sat the satchel by the door and stared at it.

“That’s a nice satchel. Where did you get it?” asked his mom.

“A guy at school left it for me.”

“That was nice of him.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Don’t be so gloomy.” She glanced at him briefly and continued cooking their lizard casserole.

Rory shrugged his shoulders and sat at the table.

“You should be thankful, son, for every kind deed… whether it’s big or small.”

Rory’s grandfather staggered in and yelled, “Hey, my boy!” He was hard of hearing and spoke loudly. “Did you have fun? A big boy like you should have plenty of friends by now.”

Rory held his head down, watching a ladybug crawl into a crack.

“Dad! You know he’s sensitive about that.” Rory’s mom noticed he was getting annoyed.

“About what… making friends? Everyone needs friends.” He took a pipe out of his pocket and tapped it on the back of his hand. “I thought we moved here to change his school,” he muttered, cleaning his pipe. “I’ve never understood why he wasn’t friends with the fairies and elves at his old school. I knew their parents and they were nice.”

“No, Dad,” Rory’s father explained. “You mentioned his size again.”

“What about it?” His grandfather lit the pipe and sat in his favorite chair. “Rory knows he’s a big boy. And I’m darn proud of it.”

Rory stood up abruptly. “I’m in the room! Why do you always talk about me as though I weren’t here?” He ran out the door before they could say anything, and didn’t stop running until he was deep within the forest.

The sun’s soft glow streamed along the path. Rory walked aimlessly. His thoughts raced as he reflected on what just happened… and what happened at school. As he walked, time seemed to pass slowly. As the sun set, he finally stopped and sat on a large tree root.

“Hello, Rory,” said a gentle voice.

Rory looked around but he didn’t see anyone.

“Who said that?”

“I did.”

The root moved beneath him, throwing him off balance. Rory rolled backwards and landed on his back. He looked up and saw a face looking down at him and began to panic.

“Calm down, Rory. I won’t hurt you.”

“Who are you?”

“Of course… we’ve never formally met. I’m the Tree of Wisdom.”

Rory stood and examined the tree. “How did you know my name?”

“I told you, I’m the Tree of Wisdom. I know many things.”

Rory folded his arms and looked at the Tree of Wisdom skeptically.

“So, you don’t believe me?”

Rory didn’t say anything. He didn’t know this stranger, and he didn’t want to anger him.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“What doesn’t matter?” asked the Tree of Wisdom. “Whether Lyrion will be a good friend, your granddad will stop calling you big, or you’ll believe I’m the Tree of Wisdom?”

Rory froze. How did he know all of that?

The tree had a broad smile. “I told you I was the Tree of Wisdom. Do you believe me now?”

“Yes,” said Rory. “I believe you. What do you want from me?”

“Nothing. You sat on my root… remember?” said the tree with light sarcasm. “It is you who needs something from me.”

“I don’t need you!” snapped Rory.  “I don’t need anything from anyone.”

The tree narrowed his eyes. The instant change in Rory’s attitude was concerning. He rubbed his chin with one of his limbs.

“I see. I’d like to tell you a short story.”

Rory was very agitated, but he nodded.

“There was once a little rabbit with many brothers and sisters. They all played together—everyone except the little rabbit. He thought they didn’t like him because one of his ears was bigger than the other. He was very mean to them when they tried to play with him. He was so mean, they finally left him alone. One day the little rabbit decided to eat berries by a stream and accidentally fell in. He splashed and screamed for help, but no one came. Just as he was about to go down for the last time, he felt something pulling him. When he reached the bank, he saw his brothers and sisters standing around him. They had held each other’s tails to make a bridge across the water, until the last bunny could reach him and pull him out.”

Rory looked confused. “I don’t see what that has to do with me.”

“The little bunny thought his sisters and brothers didn’t love him. But they were willing to do the impossible to save him. It’s just a story for you to think about.”

The glistening moonlight lit the path home. Rory was upset, but he couldn’t forget what the Tree of Wisdom had said: “They were willing to do the impossible.” He swung a stick in the air like a sword, marching defiantly through the trees. He held it above his head with both hands and stared at the moon. Suddenly an overwhelming sadness embraced him.

“That would only happen to someone else. No one really cares about me.”

 

Thank you for visiting Glimmerwood Middle School, one of the many magical places within the Starlight Realm, where every adventure helps courage, kindness, and imagination grow.

Discover what awaits Rory next week as the adventure unfolds.

 — Written with care by W. L. Shaw, creator of Fanciful Tales