It all started yesterday afternoon. Regina had to go to the market that we shop at. I like going there because the bakery lady, Marty, always gives me cookies to eat. And if there aren’t any cookies out, she lets me pick out what kind of cookie to put up for other kids to eat. I like Marty, she’s a really nice lady. JJ was taking his nap, and Mommy had asked Regina to go to the Market because she needed to have her get some things for my Birthday party. I asked if I could go with her and mommy said I could go, but to stay really close to Regina in case anything happened. I told her I would and that if anything happened I would know what to do. Mommy said that she wouldn’t doubt if that was true.
You see, since I started kindergarten, we have had policemen come to our schools and talk to us about strangers, and about what to do if a stranger approaches us. I told Lizzie if a stranger ever happened to grab me or something, that I would bite his hand, stomp on his foot and kick him in the knees for all I’m worth. We both thought that was a good plan and decided to stick to it. I even asked the police man if that was a good idea or not, and Sergeant Scully said that was an excellent idea, but not to stick around. He said that once that stranger drops you, run. I told him if it ever happened to me, I would.
Regina and I got into the station wagon, and drove to the Market. We got some goodies for my party, and more ice cream for Mommy. We also had to get more graham crackers and milk for Daddy cause he was out of them. I swear he eats more of them than I do, and I eat A LOT. When we got out of the market, Regina said that there was this little outdoor flea market that she likes to go to. She told me that one of the vendors there was holding a picture she knew that my mommy had wanted, so we decided to make a quick stop there on our way home.
When we got there, there was this other vendor that was right next to where Regina was going that had baby puppies in it. I love baby puppies. I love all baby animals but baby puppies have got to be my favorites, followed by baby kitties, and baby horsies. But it doesn’t matter where I’m at, if there are baby anything’s around I’ve got to go see them, ESPECIALLY if they are baby puppies. I asked Regina if I could go see the baby puppies and she said it would be all right. Well I was sitting there letting the baby puppy, I already named Sam, lick my fingers, when this man came up to me and asked me if my name was Jessica. I said it was, and how do you know my name. He said that he was a friend of my daddy’s and that daddy had told him to come and get me because he wanted to surprise me for my birthday. I didn’t think daddy would ever do something like that so I said, But I don’t know you, you’re a stranger. But I told you that your daddy sent me to get you. I don’t know you you’re a stranger REGINA I yelled as loud as I could. Come here kid, you’re worth a lot of dough. And he grabbed me. I started screaming and kicking for all I was worth. JESSICA Regina screamed. Then the guy, with me in tow, started running. I felt like a sack of potatoes being juggled around. All the time I was kicking and screaming. I was soo mad at him. I DON”T LIKE YOU. PUT ME DOWN. I don’t think so little lady, you’re coming with me. BUT I DON’T WANT TO GO WITH YOU, I WANT TO GO HOME. Not today little lady. Your mommy and daddy will pay big bucks to get you back, I’m counting on it. We had reached this big gray van and he opened up the back of it and threw me in it. OUCH That Hurts! If you don’t sit down and SHUT UP, you will be hurting a whole lots worse. HMMPH. So I sat. There wasn’t much else I could do.
We must have driven a long ways cause the next thing I knew, we went from a smooth ride to a really bumpy one. There were no windows on the van, and I couldn’t hear anything the man was saying, although I knew he was talking to someone. I hope he’s talking to Daddy and I hope Daddy’s telling him if he ever catches him he’s going to knock his lights out. I was tired, so I laid down on the floor of the van and closed my eyes thinking of my daddy in a fist fight with this stranger.
We stopped moving. I didn’t know it until all of the sudden there was light coming into the van. Hey Kid, wake up. Hunh? I said WAKE UP. IM AWAKE LEAVE ME ALONE. No way. You’re worth too much money. I ain’t leaving you alone. Then he reached in and tried to grab me, that’s when I bit him. Then I kicked him in the face. He screamed and covered his eyes. I crawled as fast as I could out of that van, then turned and kicked him as hard as I could in the knee. He was yelling and screaming at me, and then I ran. I ran as fast as I could. I seemed to be up in the mountains or something because all there was were trees every where I looked, but I kept running and running until I was wore out. I looked backed to see if the stranger had followed me, but he hadn’t, so I sat down and cried. I want my mommy and my daddy. I want to go home. I wanna see Regina and JJ and Four. I want my daddy. I want my daddy. I stopped crying because I thought I heard footsteps, so I took off running again. There’s too many trees, cause that’s all I see are trees, trees, and more trees. I must have gotten tired of running, cause I slowed down and started to walk. I didn’t hear any more footsteps, so I sat down on what else, a tree. Its getting cold, and its starting to get dark, and I STILL want my daddy. I don’t know what to do, but all this running has made me tired, so I think I’ll just lay down here and take a nap.
Mommy, Daddy, JJ and I are all in the pool playing. Mommy and Daddy won’t let us go into the deep end unless one of them is with us, so we are playing in the part that has the fountains in it. Its my favorite part of the pool because you can stand there and let the water hit you in the face. Hey what do you think you’re doing? I looked up and there was this big doggie licking me in the face. I must have fallen asleep and awoke to this slobber monster licking me in the face. Yeah, I like you too, but Quit Licking Me! What’s your name fella? I looked around him and I saw that he had a yellow raincoat thing on him that says something but I can’t figure out what it says cause he won’t stand still long enough. I find out that he does have a collar on and it says Sarge on it. Well Sarge, do you think you can help me find my mommy and daddy, cause I miss them very much. Sarge starts barking and barking and barking. I don’t think he will ever stop barking. I hear footsteps again, so I am about ready to take off running again, when Sarge grabs hold of my shirt and won’t let go. LET GO SARGE that stranger is coming. We’ve got to get out of here. Hold on Little Lady, its me, its Scully. Remember me from your kindergarten class? Yes, I remember you. Do you remember me telling you about rescue dogs, and how we used them to find not only people who have died like in the 9 – 11 attacks, but to find survivors as well? Yes I remember that, well now, you have been properly introduced to Sarge. He’s one of the members of the LAPD’s Search and Rescue Squad. COOL, nice to meet you Sarge, does that mean I get to go home now? Not right now, I have to take you down to the hospital and make sure you’re all right, BUT I think there will be some people down there who will be happy to see you. I hope you’re talking about mommy and daddy, cause right now there is nobody else I would rather see. Now, do you think you can walk, or would you rather have a piggyback ride? I think I would rather have a piggyback ride if you don’t mind. I don’t mind at all, young lady, hop on. And with that we walked out of the forest.
