Lily's Shopping Adventure

Lily had been dreaming about the shopping trip for days. Her friends, Emily and Grace, had planned to explore the new shopping centre and even visit the fancy skincare shop. Lily was excited about the idea of finally getting a Sephora bag like the one she had seen in magazines.

At breakfast, Lily asked her mum, "Can I go to the shopping centre with Emily and Grace today?" Her mum shook her head gently. "Not today, sweetheart. We have plans, remember?" Lily’s heart sank. She had forgotten about her family’s visit to Grandma’s house.

"But everyone’s going," Lily protested.

"I’m sorry, Lily, but you can go another time," her mum replied, her voice firm but kind.

Determined not to miss out, Lily devised a plan. She would sneak out, meet her friends at the shopping centre, and return before anyone noticed. It seemed simple enough.

Later that afternoon, Lily quietly slipped out of the house, clutching her phone. The bustling shopping centre was filled with colourful displays and excited chatter. Lily joined Emily and Grace, feeling a thrill of independence. They wandered into the skin care aisle, giggling as they tried different lotions and creams.

After a while, Lily noticed a striking Sephora bag hanging on a display. She couldn’t resist picking it up and imagining how it would look in her room. But as she turned to her friends, she realised something was wrong.

Her phone was missing.

"Oh no, what am I going to do?" Lily whispered, panic rising in her chest.

Emily and Grace helped her search, but the phone was nowhere to be found. Lily’s heart pounded with worry. How would she contact her mum? What if she got in trouble?

Just then, a kind lady approached them. "Are you looking for something?" she asked. Lily explained about her lost phone, trying to hold back tears. The lady smiled reassuringly. "I found this near the skincare aisle," she said, handing over Lily’s phone.

Relief washed over Lily, but she also felt a pang of guilt. Sneaking out had been a bad idea. She realised that her mum had said no for a reason.

When she got home, Lily told her mum everything. She apologised for sneaking out, feeling ashamed of her actions. Her mum hugged her tightly. "I’m glad you’re safe, Lily. Next time, let’s talk about it, okay?"

From that day on, Lily understood the importance of listening and being honest. She never sneaked out again, and her Sephora bag became a reminder of the lesson she learned.