Pied Piper
A Brief Reflection
By Michelle Rowlson
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Spring 2007

I am the Pied Piper. I am terribly sorry about what I had to do to the children of Hamelin. I was supposed to have been paid for the duties I carried out. You see, I rid the town of these awful rats which I was told I would be paid handsomely. When it came time for payment the town was unable to come up with the money. I should have known that the little town would be unable to pay for my services. I had to come up with some way of getting my money.

I thought long and hard about what I had to do. I knew that people in other lands were paying high prices for children to be used as slaves. I noticed while I was getting rid of the rats the children really enjoyed my music. One day, I decided that I was going to go into the town and talk to the children. I was going to try and get them to follow me. I planned to tell them about a trip to the Holy Land, and tell them that they were needed to participate in a Childrens Crusade. Having been in the town for a short period of time, I realized that the town was very religious (as most little towns were then), and it would be seen by their parents as though they were participating in the Lords work. I would be able to convince the parents to let the children leave with me. Once out of town, I felt I could easily sell the children to slave traders in a short time.

So the day came and I dressed in my brightest, most ridiculous outfit, in order to entertain the children. I had been practicing my prettiest songs so I could amaze the children and get them to follow me throughout the city and countryside. Selling the children proved to be much more profitable than getting rid of the rats. I began working with others on the idea of the Childrens Crusade Scam and an entire network of children gathering Pipers sprang up. We collected and sold off more than 7000 German children into slavery. It was a business that couldnt fail. I know that you must be thinking that I am a horrible person, and thats ok. You are right. I am. I dont deny it. I first did what I had to do, and then when I saw the money that was involved, I just couldnt stop myself. It was too easy! People can be so gullible.

For Reflection:
Here is a Piper without a conscience. The Piper starts out by claiming to be sorry. But---do you really think he is? Is he sorry he sold the children? Or is he sorry he made so much money? What is he sorry for? Sorry that the Mayor didnt hold up his end of the bargain, maybe thats what hes sorry about. Is he sorry that the Mayor forced him to this actionWhat do you think?

This story sort of reminds me of Oliver Twist, where children are exploited for their size and agility. What other stories can you find that exploit children either as products to be sold for a profit or for child labor.

Are there any places in the world right now that exploit children? I can think of at least one continent where children are at great risk because of the AIDES epidemic. Can you find out which continent that is? And explore how and why children are at risk there?

You should read Johann the Brave story, located within the Pied Piper literary world. It tells of one set of children and how they escape. If you were part of a group of children who were stolen or tricked into this plot, what would you do for real? What would you do in an imaginary story? Describe how you can be more reckless (and perhaps more brave and resourceful) in a literary story than might be practical in real life.