Mahum Kudia

Mr. Fuentes
HIE 10: Block 3A
20 November 2015
Stranger Danger
The wind whistled through my dark hair, blowing it around my face as I sped away from
the park, down the sidewalk on my brand new bike towards our apartment. I squinted in the glow
of the setting sunthe reds, browns, and greens of the trees all blending to gold. I sniffed as the
biting Pacific wind made my nose run.
Dont go too far ahead! Mommy called out as she pushed the stroller with my baby
sister inside. I responded with laughter and only pedaled harder. Mahum! Stay where I can see
you! She frantically started walking faster in an effort to catch up with me.
Youre soooooooo slooowww, Mommy, I complained. Mommy quickly caught up
while I waited for her.
Its not safe to ride your bike by yourself Mahum. A bad guy could come and kidnap
you if he sees a little girl without her parents, Mommy chided.
But its hard for me to ride my bike slowlyits a two-wheeler, remember? I said,
puffing out my chest proudly. I had recently learned to ride a big-girl bike, while lots of my
other friends were still in training wheels. But I had to go fast, otherwise the ride would be
wobbly and Id fall and hurt myself.
The sky was glowing with streaks of yellow, gold, orange, pink, and red, and evening
was fast approaching when we finally arrived. I shivered and wrapped my jacket around me
tighter as I stopped to wait for Mommy to catch up so that she could open the gate with her
remote. As soon as she did, I quickly rode into the apartment complex. At the same time, a shiny
black SUV slowly followed me in over the speed bump, Mommy and baby Simone in her stroller
came in closely behind it.
Then, I had the greatest idea of all time. I would race the car to the end of the roadright
up to the stop sign! I shot off down the road, pedaling furiously, as the car started gaining on me.
 Kudia 2

Be careful Mahum! Mommy cried out. The icy wind was rushing through my ears,
making my face and fingers numb, but I kept on pedaling to make sure I got to the stop sign first.
I won! I exclaimed in joy. I turned towards the SUV, wanting to see who I had just
beaten, when a very big, bald man, his arms covered in a second skin of tattoos stepped out of
the drivers seat. My mouth became like sandpaper, and I froze as I looked up at the huge,
hulking figure. Time seemed to slow down and stop as he stepped closer, his pale giant hands
reaching for me, trying to grab me as I stood on the curb, my mouth gaping, and my body
shaking in terror. The cars rear door was wide open for him to put me in, and he grinned at me. I
took a step back and tripped on the curb, my breath shaking and becoming more difficult with
each inhalation. Suddenly, the spell of terror I was under was broken with a piercing shout.
Run, Mahum! Run! Mommy screamed. In an instant, I grabbed my bike and
desperately tried to pull it up onto the curb, only to realize that by the time I lifted it up and got
on, the man would already have me. I dropped my bike like it had burned me and ranall the
way across the vast courtyard, the beautiful flowers and red trees all forgotten. I struggled to
breathe with the onset of an asthma attack as I hurtled up the flights of stairs, and hid behind a
potted plant by my front door, shaking and trembling in shock, my breath coming in sharp
wheezes.
After what felt like hours Mommy rushed up the stairs with my sister, and the tension and
worry in her face fell away as she saw me huddled and shaking behind the plant. She took me by
the hand and gently led me inside. She sat me down next to her and protectively wrapped her
arms around me. Are you okay? Mommy asked softly.
I think...? I mumbled into her hair as tears streamed down my face. You were right
Mommy, I shouldnt have gone off without you! I was so scared, I thought
Shhhhh, Mommy cut me off. Youre safe now. I promise.