The Missing School Hand Bell

This is part two of The Bell Tower

The male rabbits have put up the new school bell tower. They told Mrs Know that they know nothing about the missing hand bell that was by Mrs Know’s chair and desk. Mr Know tells Mrs Know he will go and make some inquiries and he hopes to have the hand bell back at the end of the day. The male rabbits leave to do their daily tasks and the student rabbits come hopping into the school room. 

 

They love the new bell tower and bell tone which is a deeper tone than the hand bell. Len and Larry would love to climb up to have a closer look at the bell but can’t see how they can.

 

 Mrs Know is reading the class a story, Two Bad Mice by Beatrix Potter when they hear a ding a ling from the hand bell. It does sound distant but they recognise the sound.

 

Meanwhile… Ruth Rattie is scuttling away from K. C. Bunnyborough and she is holding a bell! Ruth has taken the school bell and is looking for her brother, Ricky.  Ruth thinks the bell is made of gold and she wants to show Ricky so they can go to the city and sell it for a lot of money.  Ruth would like to buy a home and some shoes.

 

She scuttles pass Twin Trunks. Oops, the bell is heavy and she drops it.  It does make a clang but there is no one around so she scoops it up and continues on her way.

She sees Ricky and explains to him her idea.

Ricky is not pleased that Ruth has stolen the school hand bell.

 

Mr Know is on his bike cycling around K. C. Bunnyborough making inquiries about the missing bell. He stops at Twin Trunks when he sees the little hedgehog and asks her if she has seen anyone with the school hand bell.

“Yes, Ruth went pass ten minutes ago with it.” She answers.

“Oh, right, I’ll try to catch up to her.” Mr Know thankfully says.

 

Ruth and Ricky hear a noise and Ruth quickly climbs unto the mushroom and drops the bell into the hollow trunk.  Mr Know cycles up to them and asks Ruth if she has seen the school hand bell today.

Ruth starts crying and Ricky quietly tells Mr Know that Ruth did take it and wanted to sell it in the city for money to buy a house and shoes.  Mr Know tells them the bell is not gold it is brass.

 

 

Ricky returns the bell to Mr Know and apologises for Ruth’s actions. Ruth is crying harder and Mr Know says he won’t leave until she stops crying.  After a few minutes Ruth stops crying and also says she is sorry for stealing the school hand bell.

Mr Know arrives back at the school before the class is dismissed for the day with the school hand bell. The rabbits and Mrs Know are delighted that it has been found. One of the rabbits asks who took it. Mr Know replies that is doesn’t matter who took it, what matters now is that it has been returned. He is wondering shall the hand bell be given to the hospital or should he have it at his house because he lives at the edge of the town. A decision will be made by the committee at the next meeting.

                                 

That night when Ricky and Ruth had made their bed out of leaves and Ricky was cuddling Ruth. Ruth said  before went sleep , ”Ricky you’re the most important thing in my life. A house and shoes are not important if I don’t have you to share my life with.”