The Lost Pet

• Describe the pet with one funny detail.
• Show, don’t scream.
• A stranger’s kindness matters.
• End with a new promise.
• Keep it hopeful.
• No pets get hurt.

Character: a parrot named Popup, a pup named Chappal, a kitten named Quiz, a rabbit named Rocket, a goldfish (imagined escaped) named Coin, a goat named GPS

Place: near the tea stall, under the stage, at the cricket nets, in the library, on the terrace, by the school gate

Problem: vanished at assembly, followed a marching band, chased a kite, hid from thunder, got in a delivery van, walked into the wrong classroom

Twist: a watchman knew the name, a child had made a poster, the pet was helping someone else, it was sitting in the speaker’s chair, it came back with a friend, it had been at home the whole time — almost