Lala stepped outside her house early in the morning, ready for her usual walk around the neighborhood. The sun was just rising, painting the sky in soft shades of pink and orange. But something immediately caught her eye—her heart skipped a beat.
The windshield panels of her family’s old van were gone. Completely stolen.
Lala’s eyes grew wide as she stared at the empty frames where the glass should have been. The van looked strange and vulnerable now, like a big empty shell waiting to be fixed. She felt a wave of worry wash over her. How could someone be so careless to steal something so important?
She quickly ran to her mother, who was still preparing breakfast in the kitchen. “Mom, come look! Someone stole the windshield panels from the van!”
Her mother’s face tightened in concern as she followed Lala outside. Together, they examined the van. Lala’s mind was filled with questions. How would they get to work? What if it rained? And who would do such a thing?
Lala’s little brother, hearing the commotion, came outside. “Why is everyone so worried?” he asked.
“Because the van isn’t safe to drive without the windshields,” Lala explained.
Her mother sighed but then gave Lala a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Lala. We’ll call the mechanic today and get it fixed. Everything will be okay.”
Though Lala still felt nervous, she decided to help by checking the neighborhood for any clues. She talked to neighbors and even posted on the local community board, hoping someone might have seen something.
By evening, a kind neighbor called with news—he had spotted some people carrying glass near the park and reported it to the police.
Lala felt a little relieved. Maybe the windshield panels could be found, and the van would be whole again soon.
Even though the day had started with worry, Lala learned that with patience and community help, problems could be solved—one step at a time.
