The Lost Child

Little Maranda was lost. She had gone for a walk in the park and then did not know her way back to where her Mom and Dad were. This is a story of her journey.

Maranda saw a group of butterflies and thought how beautiful they were. Maybe if she followed them she could see where they lived. She took off running through the park. The butterflies flew into a garden with a fence around it and she couldn't get inside, so she stood and just looked at them thinking how beautiful they were. Then she saw a puppy in the park and started running after the puppy, well all of a sudden she looked around and she could not see her Mom and Dad. She was a little afraid, but it was still light out side and she thought 'I will play and they will find me'. She looked around and saw some other kids and went over to play with them. It started to rain and they had to leave. She was getting cold and wet.

She ran in the direction as to where she thought she had left her parents but could not see them. She slid down in the mud and now she was really scared, the park wasn't fun any more. Maranda should have never left her parents side, she should have stayed where she could see them at all times, and where they could see her.

The park was large and it seemed to get bigger and bigger. The sun began to set and shade was all around and it was getting a little chilly. Where was Mom and Dad, why hadn't they come to get her? She saw a family getting into their car and she asked "Have you seen my Mom?" The Mother said, "no honey we haven't". If you speak to anyone, make sure it's a family with children or someone you know.

She went to the swings and sat down , she was really worried now, she wished she had done like her Mother said and stayed close to them. She went to the slide and went all the way to the top and still could not see her parents. She sat down in the sand box and played a little while with a puppy, it seemed as if the little puppy was lost too and it stayed right with her. She sat and watched the birds go from tree to tree but she was worried now and she tried to think what Mom had told her to do, if she ever got lost.

Then she remembered, she ran all around the park and then she saw it, a phone. She went to the phone and dialed 911. The lady sounded so nice on the other end. She asked her name and told her to look around and tell her what a sign looked like where she was. Then she said "give me your name and phone number and the address of your home". Maranda had been taught all this in school and at home. She then told the lady all she wanted to know. The lady said "don't worry I will send a policeman to help you, and we will find your parents". Amanda was so happy she had remembered to call 911.

She stayed right by the phone booth like the lady told her to do. In a few moments the policeman drove up and asked her name and she told him. He said, "I'll drive around the park and find your Mom and Dad." In a matter of moments there they were. Mom was crying and she ran and hugged Maranda. "Mom I did like you told me to do, I found a phone and called 911 and the nice lady sent a policeman to help me." After that Maranda never left her parents side. We are always to stay with our parents and always remember to know your name and your address and phone number...and always call for help when you are lost 9-1-1.