Teaming Up and Escaping From Kidnap

By Hemasri Nithya Chodagiri

“I don’t know how I got myself here”. “I'm an ordinary orphan and my name is Henry”. “My dad raised me until I was 10 but after that my dad died in a museum fire and my mom died while giving birth to me”. “Because I had no money to pay rent for the apartment I ended up on the streets. When I was on the streets I found a  small abandoned shed that I could live in.” “While I was living in the shed I spotted a small furniture shop nearby and asked its owner if I could work in the furniture store. But he said “No, you're too young.” “I asked him again another day.” “He said fine and said to build a table.” “So I did.” “You might wonder, how can a kid build a table?” “My dad taught me how to build stuff out of wood since he builds figurines out of wood and sells them at his museum gift shop and so that's how I know how to build stuff. I stayed all night just to build the table. The next day I showed it to the furniture shop owner and he said it’s not the best table but he hired me to clean the tables everyday and varnish them. I accepted the job and I got 5 euros a day.” “When I was doing my daily routine walking to work, a man in black clothes walked up to me and covered me with a black cloth.” “After that I don’t remember anything.” 

Let’s get back to the present time…

“So, who are you both?” said Henry. 

"Don't scream”, my name is Ramos. 

“And you?” said Henry.

“Oh”, my name is Rosie.

“What’s your background story Ramos?” asked Henry 

“My mom died while giving birth to me and my dad got depressed and started drinking and died. After that, no one took me in, so I ended up on the streets.” said Ramos.

“What about you Rosie?” said Henry.

Im an ordinary orphan and I live in abanded shed and I work in a furniture shop

“So, what do you do, Henry," said Ramos 

"I am an Orphan but found a place to live and I also work in a shop to feed myself,” said Henry.

“Now we know we can work together and get out of here,” said Ramos.

“Talking about that, I have scissors so I can cut the ropes,” said Henry. 

“Rosie, reach into my pockets and get the scissors. Get them to toss it in my lap.” 

“Thanks," said Henry ”.  

“It’s  going to take a while since I have to cut my own ropes," said Henry .” 

It's been like 15 mins… 

“Are you gonna ever finish cutting the ropes?” said Ramos. 

“I just finished”. 

“Now, I will cut your ropes first, Ramos,” said Henry. 

“Finally,” said Ramos. 

“Snip snip snip finished you're ready to go now Ramos” said Henry. 

“It's your turn Rosie”. 

“Snip snip snip you can get up now Rosie”. 

“Henry, I think I got an idea,” said Ramos. 

“You see that little crack in the  roof.” “I think that crack can open a little hole so if we open it, we can climb out," said Ramos.” 

“Ramos, you can piggy back ride me on the chair so I can climb up. And then you can throw me the rope that the kidnapper tied us with, so I can drop down the ropes so you guys can climb up,” said Rosie.

”After we get on the roof I will drop down the rope just like Rosie said and then you guys can climb down and I will get the ropes and jump down and try to catch me”, said Henry.

“Then when everyone gets down we can go to the back of the house and then start running straight to the right,” said Rosie. 

“Ok now we have the plan, we can do it now”. 

Henry carefully get the chair and put it under the crack, said Ramas. 

Thanks, I got on the chair. 

So Rosie is standing behind me on the chair now. I'm gonna get your leg and try to latch on to me said Ramas. 

“Ok, perfect you did it”. 

“Now try to get the crack and pry it  open your heavy uh” said Ramos.

“I pried  it open and I'm trying to climb up Ramos. Can you push me a little”, said Rosie.

“Yeah I can”. There you go, I pushed said Ramos.

“Thanks, I got up,” and now throw the rope, said Rosie. 

“I'm gonna throw the rope and catch it.”  said Henry.

“Got the rope now. I'm throwing down the ropes. Climb up, you guys are also heavy, not gonna lie.” said Rosie.

“Ramos got up, now you can get up”, said Rosie.

“I got up too,” said Henry.

Now Henry throw down the ropes so me and Rosie can get down.

First, Rosie can go down carefully. 

“I got down. Now it's your turn. Ramos” said Rosie. 

I got down too said Ramos. 

Henry, “jump”. “Got you” at least you are safe. 

“Ramos and Henry, there’s a fence here so we should jump over the fence then we can start to run,” said Rosie.

“That's a good plan. Though if you jump there are high chances that the kidnappers can hear us so let's crawl under the fence”, said Henry.

“Ok you can go first, Henry,” said Ramos.

I crawled under the fence.

“Now it's your turn, Rosie," said Henry. 

“I have a phobia for tight spaces, but I won’t jump, rather I will walk over the fence”, said Rosie.

“That’s actually a better idea than crawling under the fence," said Ramos. 

It’s your turn’ Ramos” said Rosie. 

“I got out. Now carefully, tip toe to the back, follow me”, said Ramos. 

“Now we are in the back of the house, we can tip toe toe straight to the right. When we come to the end of the street we can all find some trustworthy person to take us back to the furniture store”, said Henry.

“Follow me”, said Ramos 10 min later. 

We reached the end of the line of houses. Now we are near the road said Ramos .

There's only one person on the ride  and he looks like an old man. Should we ask him, said Rosie ? 

“Sure," said Henry. 

“Ok”, said  Ramos.

“Let's walk over to him and by the way I will talk to him.” 

"Excuse me, could you please take us to…  “Henry, what's the address?”

“It’s Lord & Taylor”, said Henry.

It’s Lord & Taylor said Rosie

”Of course, by the way, what's your name?" the old man”. 

“I’m Rosie and this is Henry and Ramos”, said Rosie.

” My name is Melies. You can call me Mr.M. Also Lord & Taylor is only 3 min away and you guys should not be in that area. It's very dangerous. A lot of crimes happen there. You guys are lucky you're not kidnapped. What are you guys even doing there?” 

“We actually got kidnapped and the three of us escaped”, said Henry .

”O Lord, you guys are blessed. Oh we're already at Lord & Taylor. Bye, be safe.” 

“Thanks  for the lift”, said Ramos. 

“Finally we can sleep for the night and the next morning we can all go to the shop and you two  can ask for a job in the furniture store”, said Henry.

The next morning… 

"Guys, wake up Rosie, Ramos”. 

“I'm ready, let's go”, said Ramos. 

“Me too, let’s go”, said Rosie. 

5 minutes later… 

“At the furniture store I will ask the owner if you guys can work here”, said Henry .

”Sir, I am sorry I couldn't come to work yesterday but can these kids work in the store too?" asked Henry. 

“Hmm, what's your name?" asked  the furniture store owner?” 

“Mine, my name is Rosie.” 

“You can clean the store and you will get 6 euros a day, " said the furniture store owner.

“You li’l kid, what is your name? "said the furniture store owner.

”My name is Ramos.” 

“Ramos, you can help Henry with varnishing the tables”, said the furniture store owner.

”Henry can teach Ramos how to vanish tables and Henry  can show you where you can find the broom and dustpan and after that Rosie can start sweeping the floor," said the furniture store owner. 

After work that day... 

“Henry, thank you so much you gave us both jobs. I'm so thankful”, said Rosie.

”Me too, really thank you, " said Ramos.

”I'm just thankful we are all friends,” said Henry.

Henry and his friends took the support of the furniture shop owner and reported the kidnappers to the police who caught them and sent them to jail. The police were thoroughly impressed so the three kids got a bravery award for their bravery and also got an admission to go to local school. 

• End -

By Hemasri Nithya Chodagiri