This is the 1st adventure tale of Maya, Art and their dog Luna. Please print it for your kids to introduce them to the meaning of freedom and play along some of the fabulous music of Nina Simone. Enjoy!
“Come on, Arthur! We’re going to be late for the bus!” Maya ran down the street, tugging on the leash of her dog, Luna.
“Maya, hold on!” Arthur grumbled behind her, as he held his backpack over his shoulders. “We can wait for a while. It’s only noon.”
“I want to get to the bay before all the tourists!” Maya yelled back. “We don’t have a lot of time!” She tugged on her brother’s arm. “Please, Arthur?”
Arthur sighed. It was his job to babysit his little sister all summer, so he knew he couldn’t let her go alone. Maya was only six, after all. He didn’t think six year olds knew much about the world. “Okay, fine. I’ll come quickly.”
“The bus stop is on Fillmore and Sacramento Street,” Maya recited with a smile. She had been practicing all week to remember the bus routes all over San Francisco. Maybe she was smarter than Arthur had given her credit for.
The two kids hurried down the winding streets of downtown San Francisco. The streets were full of neighbors and tourists, and many of them stopped to pet Luna. The friendly dog always jumped up to greet strangers, and Maya had to pull her away. “Down, girl!” she said, laughing as Luna tried to run after another tourist.
The hot summer sun was blazing down on them, and Maya quickly stopped in the shade to make sure Luna was okay.
“Luna needs some water, or she won’t be able to play at the beach,” Arthur said, looking around to try and find a water fountain nearby. “Why didn’t you pack a water bottle?” he asked, annoyed at his little sister.
“I thought you would pack one!” Maya exclaimed.
“Why do I always have to think of everything?” Arthur complained.
“Because,” Maya said, smugly. “You’re the older one. And you’re the babysitter. It’s your job.”
Before Arthur could yell back, Luna barked impatiently. She was panting under the shade of a nearby tree, too tired to keep walking. Maya sat next to her, petting her head softly while cooing. “Poor girl. I’m sorry that my big brother is such a meanie and forgot to pack you anything. When we go home, I’m going to give you so many treats!”
Arthur groaned. He tried to think of a solution. He knew there was always water in grocery stores. He frowned, looking around the neighborhood for one, but here didn’t seem to be any around him.
“I think I saw a convenience store a few blocks back,” Arthur said to Maya, “You stay here and make sure Luna’s okay. I’m going to run and go get some water.”
Maya frowned. “But I want to be the one to get water. Why do I have to sit and do nothing all the time?”
Arthur rolled his eyes at his little sister. “Because you’re a baby, Maya. You can’t do big kid things like buy stuff at the store yet. You’re always too afraid to go places alone.”
Maya pouted, but sat down anyway, watching as Arthur left. “You know,” she said to Luna, “Arthur never thinks I can do anything just because he’s twelve and I’m only six. But I’m not a baby anymore.”
Luna barked in agreement.
Maya stood up, suddenly determined. “And I’ll prove to him that I’m not a baby. I’m going to go find the water on my own.” She tugged at Luna’s leash gently as she started to walk down the street. But soon, there were no more street signs, and Maya realized she had become very lost. There were nothing but dark alleys all around her.
Maya turned to see a group of older kids walking her way. “Um, excuse me-” she began.
“Nice dog,” one of them said. “I bet you’d be so sad if the police took her away.”
“What?” Maya said, confused.
“The police,” another kid said. “You know, dogs aren’t allowed on this street. If they see you, they can take your pretty little puppy to jail.” She smiled, but it wasn’t a nice smile. “You know, we could take her off your hands for you.”
Maya clutched Luna’s leash tight. “No, wait!” she protested. “I don’t want to give you Luna!”
“Aw, it’s just for safekeeping!” One of the kids said. They began walking towards her, reaching their hand out. “Come on, you crybaby. Give me the dog!”
Just then, before Maya could scream, the teenager stopped walking towards her. She had stopped doing anything, in fact. Maya gasped, not believing her own eyes. The other teenagers appeared frozen too, and it was only her and Luna that were still moving. It was as if time had stopped around them.
Hello, Maya,” a voice said behind her.
Maya jumped, turning around to see a woman next to her. She was tall, and walked with an air of poise and confidence. Maya stared in awe. “Hello....” she started. “Um, who are you?”
The woman smiled. “My name is Nina Simone,” she said. Her voice was melodic and loud, like the beat of a song. “I think your friend Luna called me.” Nina knelt down to pat Luna on the head. “What seems to be the problem?”
Maya pointed to the teenagers. “I’m scared they’re going to take Luna away! They said I’m not allowed to have her.” “Really?” Nina folded her arms. “That doesn’t seem right. Everyone has the freedom to walk their pet in public.”
“I know!” Maya agreed.
“You know, when I was a kid, people said I wasn’t allowed to do many things either.”
“Like what?” Maya asked.
Nina thought for a moment. “When I was little, my family and I weren’t allowed to sit in the front of church because of the color of our skin. Then, I wasn’t allowed to attend music college, even though I was a great musician. I won many awards for my music throughout my life, but still, people told me everyday that I wasn’t allowed to be in certain places or act a certain way. But you know what I said to those people?”
Maya shook her head.
Nina laughed. “I said, I’ll do it anyway! I told them, I know what freedom means to me. It means no fear.”
“No fear,” Maya repeated.
“Exactly, Maya. You’re allowed to be here just as much as anyone else is. Luna too.” Nina smiled, petting the dog again. “Don’t let anyone take away your freedom.”
With that, Nina began to fade away, and Luna barked loudly. Maya snapped out of her daze, turning to the teenagers in front of her, who had now become unfrozen. They marched towards her, hands outstretched.
“No!” Maya shouted.
They stopped in their tracks, surprised. “No?” one of them said.
“I said no!” Maya repeated. “I’m allowed to walk my dog here just as much as anyone else is. And you can’t take Luna away from me. I’m not afraid of you guys! If you try to take Luna... I’ll scream! And everyone here will know that you guys are dog-stealers!”
The teenager in front stopped smiling. “Look, kid, we’re not trying to start anything-” she began.
“I’m going to scream! 1.... 2...”
“Okay, okay! Geez. We’re sorry. We won’t take the dog.” Rolling her eyes, she beckoned the other two teenagers to follow her as she left Maya alone.
Maya let out a sigh. “Luna! I was so scared I would lose you!” she said.
Before she could say anything else, Arthur ran up to her.
“Maya, I was looking everywhere for you! I saw what you did!” he said.
Maya ran up to her brother, hugging him. “I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t have ran off. I should have listened to you.”
Arthur smiled, hugging his little sister back. After such an adventurous morning, he was just glad they were together again. “I’m sorry too,” he replied. “I saw what you said to those mean kids. You’re not a baby - you’re just as brave as any big kid.”
“Thanks, Arthur,” Maya said. “By the way, I have to tell you this thing about Luna.”
As they walked back towards the bay, led by Luna, Maya recounted to Arthur her tale of meeting Nina Simone, seeing their dog’s special powers, and, most of all, understanding the importance of fighting her fears.
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