It was a quiet morning when Poki, full of curiosity and mischief, decided to sneak out of the house. The front gate had been left slightly open, and for a little one like Poki, that was all the invitation he needed. Without making a sound, he slipped through the gap and wandered into the world beyond, his eyes wide with wonder.
Back inside, Poki’s mom was busy preparing breakfast, thinking he was still curled up in his cozy spot by the window. She called his name once or twice but assumed he was just napping, as he often did. What she didn’t know was that Poki was already halfway down the street, exploring new sights, smells, and sounds.
The world outside was big — much bigger than Poki imagined. He watched birds hop along the sidewalk, chased a falling leaf, and even tried to befriend a friendly dog walking by. Everything was new and exciting, but as the hours passed, the excitement slowly gave way to confusion. The streets no longer looked familiar, and Poki began to feel a little scared.
Meanwhile, Mom finally realized Poki was missing. Her heart dropped. She searched every corner of the house, calling out his name with growing panic. She rushed outside, asking neighbors and checking the park where he liked to play. Her worry turned into desperation — where could her little one have gone?
Back on the unfamiliar street, Poki sat down beside a lamppost, his ears drooping. He missed home. He missed his mom. Just then, a kind stranger noticed the worried little face and bent down to check his tag. Moments later, Mom’s phone rang, and her eyes filled with tears of relief.
When she finally scooped Poki into her arms, she didn’t scold him. She just held him tight, whispering how scared she had been and how much she loved him. Poki purred softly, nuzzling her shoulder.
From that day on, Poki never wandered far from home again — because he had learned that adventure was fun, but nothing was more comforting than the arms of a worried, loving mom.
