The Police

 Midge, Booker-T and Melody strolled along the sidewalk on their way to Jake's house. As they were about to cross the street, a police car sped by them with their lights flashing and the siren blasting.

“Where are they going so fast?” asked Melody.

“I don't know,” said Booker-T. “But they sure are in a hurry.”

“Can we follow them?” asked Melody. “I want to see what they are doing.”

“I don't know where they went,” said Booker-T. “And we can't run that fast.”

“I can't see them anymore,” said Midge. “Lets go to Jake's house.”

“Was that the police?”asked Melody.

“Yes,” smiled Midge.

“Why do they have those red and blue lights on the top of their cars and make that loud noise?” asked Melody.

“I think the lights are there so the people can see them coming,” said Booker-T. “And the sound is so they can hear them coming and get out of the way.”

“They chase bad people and they stop people who go too fast on the streets,” said Midge. “And give them tickets.”

“Why do they give them a gift if they are doing something wrong?” asked Melody.

“A ticket isn't a gift,” said Midge. “A ticket is something they have to pay back.”

“Oh,” said Melody. “Why?”

“It is called a fine,” said Midge. “My owner got one of those tickets one time and she wasn't happy about it. I heard her tell her sister that she had to pay the city $200.”

“Maybe they were chasing a bad person,” suggested Melody.

“Sometimes the police go to car accidents,” said Midge. “I saw two cars hit each other in front of my house one time and soon the police came and was talking to the people in the cars.”

“They go to fires when there is one too,” added Booker-T. “remember te police and the fire truck we followed on day to a house fire?”

“The fire people put out the fire and the police talked to neighbors,” said Booker-T. “They put out the fire really fast. We watched them.”

“Maybe they went to a house fire,” said Melody.

“Maybe,” said Midge. “But we didn't see any fire truck go past us. But maybe they went a different direction.”

As they turned the corner onto Jake's street, they saws the police car sitting in front of Jake's house. They started running to the house. They saw Jake sitting outside in the yard.

“Why are the police at Jake's house?” asked Melody.

“I don't know,” said Midge. “Jake! What are the police doing here?”

“Were you bad, Jake?” asked Melody.

“No,” laughed Jake. “I wasn't bad. They aren't here to see me.”

“What happened?” asked Midge. “Is your owner okay.”

“I see that your owner is gone,” said Booker-T. “Her car isn't in the driveway.”

“She is in the house,” said Jake.
“Where is her car?” asked Midge.

“When she woke up and got ready for work,” said Jake. “She saw no car outside.”

“Where is her car?” asked Booker-T.

“She don't know,” said Jake. “I heard her call the police and said someone stole her car.”

“What is stole?” asked Melody.

“It means that someone took her car away from her,” said Jake.

“It means they took it without permission,” added Midge.

“That is bad,” said Booker-T.

“Why did someone take her car?” asked Melody.

“I don't know,” said Jake.

“Is it a bad guy?” asked Melody.

“Only the bad people steal,” said Midge. “The good people don't do that.”

“Will the police find her car for her?” asked Melody.

“Boy you ask a lot of questions,” laughed Booker-T.

“How will I know anything if I don't ask,” said Melody.

“That's true,” said Jake.

“They will try to find her car,” said Jake. “My owner gave the police a description of her car and the last time she saw it.”

“What is a description?” asked Melody.

“She is telling them what the car looked like,” said Jake.

“Maybe they can't find it,” sighed Melody. “Sometimes I lose things and I can never find them anymore.”

“But your things are little,” said Midge. “The car is really big.”

“How will they find it?” asked Melody.

“I don't know,” said Booker-T. “Maybe they tell people on the news about it and they show people what the car looks like.”

“Can we look for the car?” asked Melody. “Maybe the police will need our help.”

“They will try hard, Melody,” said Jake. “It will be okay. I don't think they need us dogs and cats helping them.”

“The police are good people,” said Midge. “They gave some toys to our neighbors one time when their house burned down.”

Before long, the policeman came out the front door and told Jake's owner they would let her know if they find the car.

“We will do our best to locate your car ma'am,” said the policeman.

“Thank you officer,” said Jake's owner as she dabbed the tears from her eyes with a tissue.

“Is she crying Jake?” asked Melody.

“She is sad that her new car is gone” said Jake.

“I never saw my owner cry before,” said Booker-T.

“I saw mine cry one time when she was watching a movie,” said Midge.

“Mine too,” said Booker-T. “But she don't cry if she isn't watching a movie.

“I hope the police find her car, Jake,” said Midge.

“What will they do to the bad man who took her car?” asked Melody.

“I think they will put him in jail,” said Booker-T.

“Do you want to see where the police and firemen stay?” asked Midge

“Okay,” said Melody. “Lets go.”

The four friends strolled along the sidewalk to where the police station and fire station were located.

“I am happy you are my friends,” smiled Melody.

“We are too,” smiled Booker-T. “We have another friend we want you to meet. Maybe he will come by the house soon.”

“Okay,” said Melody. “I'm excited.