

Timmy liked to play hide and seek with his big sister, Anna. She was very good at finding him, but he was also good at hiding. He knew a secret place in the kitchen, where there was a big cupboard with a small door. He could crawl inside and be hidden from Anna.
One day, they were playing hide and seek again. Anna counted to ten and said, "Ready or not, here I come!" Timmy ran to the kitchen and opened the small door. He crawled inside the cupboard and closed the door behind him. He was very quiet and still. He heard Anna's footsteps in the hall, then in the living room, then in the bedroom. He smiled. She would never find him here.
But then, he heard a loud noise. It was the door of the big cupboard. Someone was opening it. Timmy was scared. He hoped it was not Anna. He hoped it was Mommy or Daddy. He peeked through a crack and saw a face. It was not Mommy or Daddy. It was a stranger. A man with a mask and a bag. He was looking for something to take. He saw Timmy.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" the man said. He grabbed Timmy by the arm and pulled him out of the cupboard. Timmy screamed. He wanted Anna. He wanted Mommy. He wanted Daddy. He wanted to be hidden.
"Shut up, kid!" the man said. He put his hand over Timmy's mouth. He looked around. He saw a phone on the counter. He picked it up and dialed a number. He said, "I found something in the kitchen. A kid. What should I do with him?"
Timmy heard another voice on the phone. It was Anna. She said, "Let him go, or I'll call the police. I saw you from the window. I have your picture. I have your license plate. You have no choice. Surrender."
The man dropped the phone. He looked at Timmy. He looked at the window. He looked at the door. He was trapped. He was scared. He let go of Timmy and said, "OK, OK, you win. I surrender. Don't call the police. Please."
Timmy ran to the door. He opened it and saw Anna. She hugged him and said, "You're safe, Timmy. You're brave. I'm sorry I couldn't find you sooner. I love you."
Timmy hugged her back and said, "I love you too, Anna. You're smart. You're strong. You saved me."
