Never trust strangers

XUE LING sat on the couch, messaging her best friend, Nirah. Her parents had gone for a party and left her home alone. Xue Ling wasn’t scared because all the doors and windows were locked.

Xue Ling smiled to herself. How fun it was without her parents! She could open all the doors and windows anytime but she didn’t. Who knew what would happen?

She turned back to her new smartphone, a gift from her parents for her ninth birthday. Suddenly, a chat message popped out on her phone.

“Hello Xue Ling, I’m your mother’s friend,” it read.

Xue Ling texted back: “Hello!” The unknown user sent her a smiley emoji and texted: “Your mother told me to come to your house and cook a meal for you.”

“Okay! I’ll open my front door for you,” she replied, slipping her handphone into her jeans pocket.

Not long, two tall and pretty women were at her front gate. Xue Ling opened the door and welcomed them into her house.

In an instance, the women snickered wickedly and took out a thick rope.

“Who are you?” Xue Ling questioned.

One woman tied Xue Ling to a kitchen chair.

“Help! Save me!” Xue Ling screamed frantically.

“Shut it, young lady,” warned the other lady.

Then she gagged Xue Ling, so she couldn’t scream for help. The women ran upstairs to raid the master bedroom.

Xue Ling was frightened to death. She twisted and wriggled, but couldn’t release herself from those tight ropes. She stopped for awhile and started thinking of ways to escape. Scanning the kitchen, she knew there were knives in the cabinet drawer.

A sharp and short pocket knife was all she needed.

Xue Ling was lucky as she could reach the drawer. She carefully reached out her hand and managed to get hold of a knife.

Xue Ling used it to cut the ropes. Once freed, the young girl managed to escape through the kitchen door. She ran into the bushes and dialled 999. The cops arrived in a flash.

The cops caught and handcuffed the ladies and took them away in the police car.

Xue Ling stayed at the police station with the cops until her parents came back. Xue Ling learnt a lesson – never trust strangers and be wary of unknown numbers on your cell phone. –

Han, 10

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