Copyright 2000 --  Robert Baer Jr

All of the characters and/or background in this story are the sole
property of Robert Baer Jr.

Wayside Charlie -- "Picnic Panic"

Late one evening Wayside Charile was at home, playing on his computer
while his mom and dad were busy in the kitchen.  Tommorrow was the church
picnic and they were hard at work preparing a crock pot full of chili and
baking homemade raisan cookies.

"Mom, dad, are you sure you don't want me to help you bake those cookies,
do ya?"  Charlie asked with humble anticipation.

"Charlie,"  mom answered in a kind tone,"I know you well enough to know
that you'd be eating my cookies faster than I can bake them!"

"Your mother's right Charlie!"  Dad added with a chuckle as he reaches for
one of the cookies,"then again, who could blame you!"

"Stop that!" Charlie's mom said as she lightly slaps her husband's
hand,"those cookies are for the picnic tommorrow!"

Suddenly, the front doorbell rings.  "Charlie, will you please answer the
door?" his mother asked.

"Sure thing, mom!"  Charlie said as he walked over and opened the door.  
Standing on the front porch was Juanita Bunny, looking very, very sad.

"Oh Charlie!" she said in a terrified voice,"something terrible has
happened, I need your help!"

"Calm down, Juanita," Charlie said in a soft tone,"come in and tell me all
about it."

Juanita and Charlie sit on the couch as she begins to tell her story.

"Charlie, the church picnic is tommorrow, and my mom fixed up a big batch
of her famous beanie-weinies"

"WOW!!   I LOVE HER BEANIE-WEINIES!!!"

"Charlie, that's the problem!   Mom and dad left me in charge of them
while they went out for more groceries."

"Then what happened, Juanita"

"Well, Jimmy Fox came over.  He smelled the beanie-weinies and wanted to
try some.  He begged and begged so I let him have a bowl.  Then more
friends came over and they wanted to try some too.  Before I knew it,
nearly all of the beanie-weinies were gone!   My parents will be home any
minute, Charlie, what will I do?"

"Well, Juanita," Charlie said glumly,"you have to tell them the truth."

"But they'll be SO angry!"  Juanita shouted,"I might end up grounded or
punished some other way.  Maybe I could tell them we were robbed, or maybe
that a huge dinosaur came and ate them or ...."

"Don't be so silly,"  Charlie said as he shook his head,"lying isn't the
answer.  That will simply make things worse.  You have to tell them the
truth, face them with the facts."

"But I'm so afraid, Charlie!"  Juanita said sadly."you don't know MY
parents."

"I know my mom and dad,"  Charlie replied,"last month when I broke that
lamp, they were very upset with me.  I could've told them the cat did it,
but I decided to confess.  They were still upset with me, but they were
proud of me for telling the truth."

"Really, Charlie?"  Juanita asked as her face brightened.

"Yes,"  Charlie answered,"I still got grounded for a week, but I'd been
punished a lot worse if I'd try to lie about it, I'm sure."

"You're right, Charlie," Juanita said with a slight smile,"I'll go home
and tell them the entire story."

"That's the spirit, Juanita!"  Charlie said with a nod,"better hurry back
across the street before they get there."

"Ok, thanks Charlie!  I knew you'd have the answer!"  Juanita shouted as
she rushed out the front door and back to her house.  When her parents
came home, Juanita explained all that had happened.  They were upset, but
admired her for being honest with them.   They gave Juanita a big hug.

Our parents, parent or guardians are here to help guide, protect and take
care of us in our younger years.  It's always a good idea to be completely
honest with them when problems occur.  Never be afraid to speak to them. 
You will discover, as Charlie and Juanita have, that although they may
punish us when we misbehave, they truly love us.