02 Salma and the Stranger
/02 Salma and the Stranger
Salma was an eight-year-old girl.
/Salma was an eight-year-old girl.
She was a little slow-paced, but she loved animals and flowers and had a kind heart for everyone.
/She was a little slow-paced, but she loved animals and flowers and had a kind heart for everyone.
On her way home from school, Salma passed by the park as she always did.
/On her way home from school, Salma passed by the park as she always did.
The breeze felt nice, and as she walked, she chatted with the dandelions growing by the roadside.
/The breeze felt nice, and as she walked, she chatted with the dandelions growing by the roadside.
Suddenly, a strange man approached her.
/Suddenly, a strange man approached her.
“Hey, could you help me with directions? Can you come over here?”
/“Hey, could you help me with directions? Can you come over here?”
Salma stopped walking.
/Salma stopped walking.
But she quickly remembered what her mother had told her before.
/But she quickly remembered what her mother had told her before.
“Salma, if a stranger asks you for directions, don’t get close.”
/“Salma, if a stranger asks you for directions, don’t get close.”
“An adult asking a child alone for help is a little suspicious.”
/“An adult asking a child alone for help is a little suspicious.”
“Keep your distance, say no clearly.”
/“Keep your distance, say no clearly.”
“And if you feel scared, shout loudly and run to a place where people are around.”
/“And if you feel scared, shout loudly and run to a place where people are around.”
Salma took a step back and bravely said,
/Salma took a step back and bravely said,
“Sorry, I don’t know!”
/“Sorry, I don’t know!”
The man looked a bit troubled and said,
/The man looked a bit troubled and said,
“Then just come over here for a second.”
/“Then just come over here for a second.”
Salma stepped back even more, feeling in her heart that something was wrong.
/Salma stepped back even more, feeling in her heart that something was wrong.
Just then, the man stepped forward slightly,
/Just then, the man stepped forward slightly,
and Salma shouted with all her might,
/and Salma shouted with all her might,
“A stranger is coming close! Please help!”
/“A stranger is coming close! Please help!”
A nearby greengrocer noticed right away and came out of the shop.
/A nearby greengrocer noticed right away and came out of the shop.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
/“What’s going on?” he asked.
The man quickly left the scene in a hurry,
/The man quickly left the scene in a hurry,
and Salma was able to return home safely, protected by the greengrocer.
/and Salma was able to return home safely, protected by the greengrocer.
That night, Salma told her mother what had happened.
/That night, Salma told her mother what had happened.
Her mother hugged Salma tightly and said,
/Her mother hugged Salma tightly and said,
“You did so well.
/“You did so well.
You shouted, kept your distance, and said no clearly—
/You shouted, kept your distance, and said no clearly—
you did everything right.
/you did everything right.
Your courage protected you.”
/Your courage protected you.”
Her father spoke with a serious expression.
/Her father spoke with a serious expression.
“This is important.
/“This is important.
Let’s report it to the police and think about how to make our town safer.”
/Let’s report it to the police and think about how to make our town safer.”
That night, her father went to the police box and explained everything Salma had experienced.
/That night, her father went to the police box and explained everything Salma had experienced.
The officer said,
/The officer said,
“Let’s share this information and strengthen community watch efforts.”
/“Let’s share this information and strengthen community watch efforts.”
A few days later, the neighborhood association held a meeting about protecting children.
/A few days later, the neighborhood association held a meeting about protecting children.
Shopkeepers and neighbors gathered and said together,
/Shopkeepers and neighbors gathered and said together,
“Let’s make our town a place where children can walk safely.”
/“Let’s make our town a place where children can walk safely.”
Watching the meeting, Salma thought,
/Watching the meeting, Salma thought,
“My voice helped protect the town.
/“My voice helped protect the town.
If we all help each other, our town will be even safer.”
/If we all help each other, our town will be even safer.”
The next day at school, the teacher talked about what to do when approached by a stranger.
/The next day at school, the teacher talked about what to do when approached by a stranger.
Salma raised her hand and shared her experience.
/Salma raised her hand and shared her experience.
Everyone listened seriously, and the teacher said,
/Everyone listened seriously, and the teacher said,
“Just like Salma, having the courage to act is very important.
/“Just like Salma, having the courage to act is very important.
Everyone has the power to protect themselves.”
/Everyone has the power to protect themselves.”
Salma felt happy and thought to herself,
/Salma felt happy and thought to herself,
“Kindness is important, but so is the power to protect myself.
/“Kindness is important, but so is the power to protect myself.
I want to help keep everyone safe too.”
/I want to help keep everyone safe too.”
Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
/Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
What did Salma do when a stranger asked her for directions?
/What did Salma do when a stranger asked her for directions?
a. She got close and gave directions.
/a. She got close and gave directions.
b. She kept her distance, said no, but he still came closer, so she yelled out for help.
/b. She kept her distance, said no, but he still came closer, so she yelled out for help.
c. She left the scene without saying anything.
/c. She left the scene without saying anything.
What did her father do afterward?
/What did her father do afterward?
a. He did nothing and forgot about it.
/a. He did nothing and forgot about it.
b. He reported it to the police and thought about making the town safer.
/b. He reported it to the police and thought about making the town safer.
c. He scolded Salma.
/c. He scolded Salma.
Let’s Think Together
/Let’s Think Together
Salma had the courage to protect herself. What would you do in a similar situation?
/Salma had the courage to protect herself. What would you do in a similar situation?
What should you remember to protect yourself and your friends?
/What should you remember to protect yourself and your friends?
What can we do together to make our town safer? Talk with your family and teachers.
/What can we do together to make our town safer? Talk with your family and teachers.
