Lexi was folding clothes when Emma came out of her bedroom. “Mama, my book is lost.”

“Is it lost, or did you hide it in its safe place again?”

“I hided it.”

“Then it is not lost; it’s hidden.”

“No, Mama. I tried gettin’ it, an’ it’s gone. You look.”

“It’s hard for Mama to look under your dresser with her big belly. Can you wait for Daddy?”

“Noooo.”

Lexi sighed, “I’ll get the flashlight.”

Once in Emma’s bedroom, Lexi got down on all fours, then crouched so her head was on the floor and butt in the air.

Part 2

“I can see your book, way back in a corner. Please get me the yardstick.”

Emma ran out of the room but didn’t come back.

Lexi’s belly was pushing on the floor, and her knees hurt, so she rolled onto her side. Now she could hear Emma talking and deduced Adam was home. She yelled, “Help.”

Adam carried Emma, who was giving him his welcome home hug. When he saw Lexi, he exclaimed, “Are you all right?”

“Yes. I was trying to get her book. Now I’m stuck.”

“You look it.” Grinning, he took her photo with his phone.

Written in response to Charli Mills June 6, 2023, prompt at Carrot Ranch Literary: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about a lost book (or many). What is the book’s significance? Who lost it, or who found it? How does this element fit into a poem, memory, or a specific genre? Go where the prompt leads!