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 -- "The Golden Rule" One Saturday morning Wayside Charlie and his friends were helping his Uncle George at his grocery store. Juanita Bunny was busy placing canned goods on a shelf while Jimmy Fox swept the aisles with a large push broom. Sasha Bear was outside bringing in shopping carts while Charlie was setting things up in the produce section. "You and your friends are doing a great job, Charlie!" Uncle George said with a smile,"now I have to go around back to help unload a bakery truck. Can you look after things until I return? We open for business in ten minutes and we have to get all that bread inside, OK?" "Alright, Uncle George!" Charlie said with a nod,"you can count on me!" So, Uncle George rushed to the back of the store building to unload the bakery truck. As Sasha opened the door to bring some more shopping carts inside, Spike ran in and looked over at where Charlie was standing." "Hey Spike!" Charlie shouted,"the store isn't open for another five minutes and ..." "Relax, I'm not here to shop yet!" Spike said with a laugh as he pointed to a large sign over Charlie's head,"it that sign right?" "Sure, that's today's special!" Charlie explained as he read the sign aloud,"Apples twenty five cents each, five for a dollar." "Five for a dollar?" Spike asked sarcastically,"that's like getting one free, ain't it?" "Well, in a manner of speaking, yes," Charlie said. Spike took five apples and set them on the counter in front of Charlie. "Ok, if I bought these five apples, one would be free, right?" Spike asked. "Well........ I suppose......" Charlie said in hesitation. "So, which one of these apples would be the free one?" "It doesn't matter, does it Spike?" "It matters to ME, Charlie, now, which one of these would be the free one?" "Well...... that one on the end then, but......" "Are you sure, Charlie?" "Well......I guess........" "GREAT! Thanks for the FREE apple, chump!" Spike shouted as he grabbed the apple and dashed out the door. "HEY!" Charlie shouted,"COME BACK HERE!!!" Juanita. Sasha, Jimmy and Uncle George all heard Charlie shouting and came running over to the Produce section. "Charlie! What's going on?" Uncle George said excitedly. "I'm sorry, Uncle," Charlie said sadly,"Spike Bulldog snuck into the store and trick me! He took one of these apples without paying for it." "So, that's why he came in here!" Sasha said,"I thought someone ran through the door when I was bringing carts in!" "How exactly did he trick you, Charlie?" Uncle George asked. "He saw the sign about the apples," Charlie explained,"and he asked me if he bought five apples, which one of them would be free, and ...." "I think I get the picture, nephew," Uncle George said with a nod,"one of the oldest tricks in the book! I'll have a talk with Spike's parents about this!" "I'm so sorry, Uncle, I couldn't catch him..." Charlie said sadly, almost in tears. "It's alright, Charlie," Uncle George said,"it wasn't your fault. Y'know kids, things in this old world would be a lot better if everyone lived by the Golden Rule." "The Golden Rule?" Jimmy asked. "You remember the Golden Rule, don't ya Jimmy?" Juanita said with a smile. "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you, right?" Sasha asked. "That's right, Sasha!" Uncle George said with a smile,"I'll bet Spike wouldn't like it if someone tricked him the same way he tricked you, Charlie!" "That's for sure!" Charlie replied,"He'd probably want ot punch their lights out!" "I would have to agree with you, nephew," Uncle George said as he glanced at his watch,"It's time to open the store! Alright everyone, let's get ready for our customers! The world would be a better place if we all lived by the Golden Rule. Treat other people the way you would like to be treated. Some, like Spike, may not treat us kindly. However, if all of followed the Golden Rule, maybe everyone, even Spike, would follow it also! Something to think about.