Creativity
What Happens When You Decide To Write Children's Stories
It was my first attempt — “Crime Never Pays”
This was my first foray into writing children’s stories. I had taken a correspondence course, as they were called before the Internet. The story was inspired by a drawing given to us as a prompt. I wrote this circa 1987 or 88, and have edited a few times since then.
“It’s going to be a great day,” said Scanning Sparrow, as she scanned the beautiful outdoors, sitting in the window of her office. Her partner Mysterious Mouse, was sitting at his desk reading the morning newspaper, munching on Cheetos, his favorite snack. They loved being private investigators. Back when they were in school, solving mysteries is what brought them together.
“Look at this,” said Mysterious, pointing to a story in the newspaper. “Another bakery was broken into last night, that makes it three in the last week alone.”
Scanning flew over to the desk, “Why would anyone want to rob bakeries?”
“I don’t know, it’s a mystery to me.” said the mouse, as he handed the newspaper to his friend and business partner.
As she scanned the story, Scanning Sparrow made an interesting discovery. “All that was taken from the bakery were six carrot cakes.”
“Hmmm. That’s interesting,” said Mysterious as he walked over to the filing cabinet and pulled out some old newspapers. “The previous two robberies were reported to have been for a total of three carrot cakes, five carrot cream pies, and two dozen carrot-berries muffins.”
“Are you suggesting what I think you are?” asked Scanning. She could feel the thrill of a chase.
“Well, who else could it be?” said Mysterious. “But nobody has heard anything from Bandit Bunny in a long time; not since we chased and lost him in the woods when he stole a whole pie from Mrs. Hare’s kitchen. That was back when we were still in school.”
“I’ll never forget that day,” said Scanning, as she thought about it. “We were too young to figure out how or where he disappeared so fast.”
“That is true, but it inspired us to become investigators.”
“Let us pick up Detective Dog on the way to the bakery, we sure can use his services.” They were out the doors.
Detective Dog was an old fella, retired from active duty, that the pair hired when they needed him to sniff things out.
“We would like to help you find the thief that broke into your shop last night,” Scanning told the bakery owner and introduced her team.
“Feel free to look around,” said Buzzard Baker, “And if I can help in any way, please let me know.”
Mysterious examined the crumbs, as the dog put his nose to the ground, and the sparrow flew outside to scan the area.
Detective Dog was picking up some scent when Scanning Sparrow came back with the news. “I’ve found some tracks east of here, let’s go.”
Detective Dog took one sniff, wagged his tail, and started following his nose. As they approached the end of the woods, Mysterious was puzzled, because it was on the opposite end of the forest where they had lost Bandit Bunny the last time, but the dog kept going. He stopped in front of an opening in the ground. “Would you mind, Mr. Mouse, to accompany Bandit out of his dugout?”
“It would be my pleasure,” said Mysterious as he entered the rabbit hole. He was back in no time, alone. “There are lots of outlets in there. No wonder he disappeared so fast the last time.”
“If it’s true that he has dug a web down there, we will never find him.” Detective Dog seemed worried.
“Never say never,” said Scanning. “I’ve found him. Follow me.”
Several hundred yards into the woods they saw Bandit Bunny enjoying the loot. As they got closer, he saw them and ran into the hole next to him. Mysterious gave him the chase. Scanning Sparrow was watching from above and spotted him. “There he is,” she pointed out.
Bandit Bunny was trapped. He couldn’t go back in because Mouse was blocking the entrance. Detective Dog was staring him in the eyes and Scanning was circling above.
“Please don’t hurt me,” said Bandit Bunny, “I surrender.”
As Detective put the cuffs on the rabbit, Scanning landed in front of them. “Silly rabbit, don’t you know crime never pays?”
The End.
As always, thank you for reading and responding.
How to Create Stories that Make an Impact
There is more to writing than creating content.
medium.com
The Time I Sold a Balloon Bicycle for $495.00
Or how to boldly ask for whatever you want.
medium.com
Rasheed Hooda is a regular contributor to #ILLUMINATION, a writers’ community on Medium, where writers support each other to grow and prosper.
He is a self-proclaimed weirdo who lives a Freedom Lifestyle and writes about related topics — Travel (a top writer), Personal Growth, Freedom, and entrepreneurship. (Join the Tribe)
“You can let others tell you what it means to be successful, or you can decide it for yourself.”