Melissa and the stranger

With tear filled eyes I cryed out in prayer. Teach me how to teach the children.
This story is the answer to that prayer.

Melissa and the Stranger

        Melissa Mouse wanted some money for the candy machine at the supermarket. Her mother gave her a nickel, and then reached for a jar of pickles. Melissa turned with a flash and was off with a dash to the candy machine to spend her nickel. At the machine she saw the gumballs glistening through the glass. In with a click went the nickel. She turned it but it only jiggled. She was sad you can see, but what could she do? She was only a little mouse.  Then a strange ugly rat appeared beside her. He asked if he might be of aid. With a turn of his hand came a gumball which was as yellow as a nighttime candle. She popped the gumball into her mouth and mumbled a little thank you.

      Then the stranger picked her up. “Oh no,” said Melissa Mouse, but the stranger said, “It’s okay. I’m taking you to my house.”

      “I don’t want to go with you!” she kicked and screamed, but no one knew he was not her dad. No one seemed to be bothered that this stranger was not her father. There was a little chime in Melissa’s mind as she quickly remembered a little rhyme. It was only the day before at school that she had learned this safety rule. Never ever go with a stranger; you never know when it might mean Danger! 

      Melissa remembered, and the words “you’re not my daddy put me down!” caused everyone in the store to look around. There was a bit of a clatter, mumbling, and chatter as everyone ran to see just what the matter was. Melissa’s mother who was in the back of the store ran quickly towards the open door. The stranger holding Melissa put her down and looked at the ground with an awful frown. He said, “I was just playing a little joke; just having a little fun.” Then the stranger tried to run, but was quickly stopped outside in the sun by a man wearing a hat, a badge, and a gun, who took the strange rat away to a place where he would have a very long stay. Melissa holding her mother’s hand went home to play. She would always remember that day, and in her mind she would always find this simple little rhyme. Never ever go with a stranger, you never know when it might mean Danger!

Lori  Weidenbacher