Once upon a time there lived a little girl named Mia. Together with her mum she often went to the shops for groceries and, passing by the toy section, would stop and gaze longingly at the beautiful dolls, the big building sets and soft toys.
And so, once again, when mum and daughter went to the shops, Mia saw a beautiful soft panda, it was enormous, black and white, fluffy, as if alive looking at Mia and smiling at her. Mia so wanted this wonder to live at her home, in her room. Especially since her birthday was coming up soon, and this was exactly the present she so wanted to receive for her long-awaited magical celebration.
The girl started crying and began begging her mum to buy her this toy immediately. But mum had so many bags in her hands, and after the shopping there was no money left at all, and she promised her daughter that she'd buy her this toy a bit later, on Mia's birthday.
Coming home, the girl couldn't forget about the beautiful panda that she'd seen in the shop window.
Mia went up to her mum once more, and said:
Mummy, couldn't we go right now and buy that wonderful toy, because tomorrow someone might buy it for another girl, and then I'll be left without a present at all.
My sunshine, we'll definitely buy you this panda when your birthday comes, right now it's night-time, the shop's already closed.
Mia looked sadly at her mum and went to her room. And then Mia decided to go to the shop and buy the toy herself. Of course, she wouldn't go anywhere now, it was night outside, but tomorrow the girl would definitely think of something and set off for her dream at the children's toy shop.
Morning came, and mum took Mia to kindy. As usual the whole day the children in the group learnt to write, read, count, made different crafts and played with toys. And then it was time for the afternoon nap. All the children put on their lovely pyjamas, folded their things on little chairs and lay down in their beds. Mia also settled down comfortably to fall asleep quickly, but the beautiful soft panda wouldn't leave her head.
Without thinking long, and seeing that all the children were already fast asleep in their beds, Mia decided quietly, unnoticed to slip out from under the blanket and set off for her dream at the toy shop. Slipping past the teacher unnoticed, the girl headed along the familiar road to the shop where she and mum often went. Mia ran along the path for a long time, but still couldn't see that very counter with heaps of bright toys.
And then evening came, outside it became quite cold and almost dark. Mia got frightened, and decided after all to return back to kindy, so she wouldn't get told off. But turning around, the girl realised she was lost. She hadn't seen any of the shops and other buildings that surrounded her now before, so she didn't know which way to go.
Mia walks along, crying, and suddenly a grandmother comes up to her and asks:
Little girl, why are you wandering the streets by yourself in the evening? Where's your mum?
I'm lost. I was looking for my favourite toy shop, and probably walked past it. Now I don't know where to go.
Mia answered.
Let's sort this out. What's your name?
The grandmother asked.
Mia.
And who do you live with?
With my mum.
And do you go to school or kindy?
Yes, I go to kindy.
What's it called?
My kindy is called 'Little Strawberry', and our house with mum is quite nearby.
Well then, I know where that is, come on I'll take you to kindy, and we'll sort it out there.
After some time Mia and the grandmother were already approaching the kindy. And suddenly Mia saw her mum, who was sitting on the front steps and crying bitterly.
Mia rushed to her and shouted loudly:
Mummy, darling, I'm here, don't cry!
Sweetheart, where have you been? I've been beside myself!
The tearful mum answered, rushing towards Mia.
Mummy, I wanted that beautiful panda we saw in the shop so much that I decided, no matter what, to buy it for myself. I left kindy by myself and set off for it, but got lost. This kind grandmother showed me the way and brought me here. Outside it was so scary, unfamiliar men and women all around, it became quite cold, and I thought that I'd never see you again! Mummy, I was so frightened, please don't tell me off, I'll never ever do it again!
Mum hugged the girl and wiped away the tears. The next day they went to the shop together and bought that very panda that the girl had liked so much. From that day on Mia never went outside without her mum's permission, she always held her hand and didn't run off.
And if Mia really wanted something badly, she'd tell her mum about it, and they'd go together for the toy she liked. The girl understood that if she ran off like that, then one fine day she might get lost forever and never see her beloved mum and her friends from kindy again, with whom she played so happily.
