Quinn and Mama's Little Black Notebook Adventures

“I’ll be home late tonight. Dinner is in the fridge. Love you!” A quick peck on Quinn’s head and her mom was out the front door. “Love you too!” Quinn shouted and then went to plop down on her bed. She does not like that she does not get to see her mom much but she understands that unless her mom works two jobs, the rent and bills could not be paid. "I wish there’s some way I can help", thought Quinn as she rolled over right onto a little black notebook. “Oh! Mama must be finished with her page!” Quinn grabbed the notebook and flipped through it. Her and her mom both took turns drawing a page, illustrating the next part of their little story.

There was a little girl and her mom living in a cute little house. The house was near a big park. There were lots of little creatures that live in the park that the little girl would love to go hang out with. One day they found a lost little dog wandering around by itself at the park. They went all over town to try and find its owner but no owner came forward. They decided to keep the dog as their pet. They love to play fetch with the dog at the park. The dog would go with them around town such as shopping and playing with the neighborhood kids. They went on more and more extraordinary adventures. They help the local authorities solve mysteries around town. They stopped a dragon from destroying the town with its fiery breath. They helped a lost ghost find its way home. They traveled to a land of fairies.

Hmmm, what other adventures shall we go on, thought Quinn. She looked out her window at the street below. Quinn squinted at the sunset and glanced at the apartment building across the street and gasped. She saw black smoke curling out a window on what looked to be the fifth floor. She opened her window to look more closely and the strong smell of burning wood reached her nose. That’s when she heard it. It was a puppy yelping. “I have to go help the puppy! The dragon must be naughty again!” Quinn grabbed her backpack and keys and ran out across the street. “Oh! I should have called the fire department to help put out the fire! It’s too late now,” thought Quinn as she was already there. She ran for the staircase and started racing up the steps.

It was getting hard to breathe with the smoke getting thicker. Quinn got on her knees to crawl when she was on the fifth floor to stay as much under the black smoke as she could. She covered her mouth and nose with her jacket. “Puppy! Puppy!” she cried as she kept crawling. When she got to door 505 she could hear the yelping was coming from in there. She put her hand to the doorknob and noticed the door was ajar. She shoved it open and the puppy ran out. “Puppy!” Quinn shouted excitedly. She grabbed the puppy and put it in her backpack. She can hear sirens coming from outside. “Let’s go!” she said to the puppy as she crawled back the way she came.

Quinn went as fast as she could. When she got to the staircase, the firemen burst in. “Get her out of here!” shouted one of them. One of the firemen near the back came forth and carried Quinn with the puppy out the building. They were left with the paramedics to be looked over while the firemen worked to put the flames out. “Where are your parents?” asked the EMT. Quinn told them her mom was at work but she can take care of herself. “I’m sure you can but I think your mom would want to know about this.” Quinn nodded and they contacted her mom at work.

“Quinn!!” Her mom shouted as she ran to hug her. “Are you okay?” Quinn nodded and showed her mom the puppy.

“Look, mama! I saved him from the burning building!”

“Oh my! Honey you shouldn’t have gone in the building, that’s so dangerous!”

“I know but I heard him and he was in trouble. I had to help! It’s just like our adventures in our notebook! Remember when we saved the town from the dragon?” Quinn said excitedly as her mom nodded. “The puppy was reported lost. We found out when we called the number on the collar. His owner is on his way to pick him up.”

“That’s good. I’m sure he is worried about the puppy.”

“Cue the owner,” said a man walking up behind them. “Hi, I’m Brent.”

“Oh! Hello, I’m Nikki and this is my daughter Quinn.”

“I heard she saved little Ollie here. I’m so grateful. He was taken from my yard a few days ago.” Brent took out a slip of paper and handed it Quinn. “I had reward money posted for Ollie and since Quinn found and saved him, it’s only fair she gets this.”

Nikki gasped when she saw the amount written. “Are you sure? This is for $20,000!”

“Yes, I’m certain.” Brent smiled.

Quinn was elated. “Mama! I can help you pay the rent and bills! You don’t have to go to 2 jobs and can stay home with me! We can just go on adventures!”

Nikki hugged Quinn. “Yes, I suppose I can and should since it seems I have to keep a closer eye on you and your adventures.” Nikki bopped Quinn on the nose then turned to Brent, “Thank you so much, Brent.”

“My pleasure. Come over for dinner anytime. We would love to see you both again,” Brent waved goodbye with Ollie walking by his side.

Quinn and her mom waved back, then Nikki turned to Quinn, “Alright my little heroine, shall we go home and relax after today’s adventure?” Quinn nodded happily and they walked home together.