First English translation copyright 2020 by Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
Published by arrangement with Loewe Verlag GmbH.
Title of the original German edition: Ich geh doch nicht verloren!
2013 Loewe Verlag GmhH, Bindlach
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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Manufactured in China, January 2020
This product conforms to CPSIA 2008
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on fle.
Cover design by Elke Kohlmann and Daniel Brount
Cover illustration by Dagmar Geisler
Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-4660-2
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-4671-8
Lu and Mama are going into town. They want to buy
bread, bananas, and red-and-white striped socks for
Lu. They desperately need these things.
Theres a lot going on at the marketplace today.
I hope you dont get lost in this crowd, Mama says.
I wont get lost, says Lu.
The sidewalks are cramped, and Lu can only see peoples legs.
Luckily, Mama is wearing her red coat. It is so eye-catching that
its impossible to miss.
A boy is standing by the fruit stand. He doesnt
look very happy.
Are you lost? asks Lu.
Of course not! says the boy.
At the bread stand, the crowd is even worse. People push
and shove. Its too bad Im so small, Lu thinks.
But then someone even smaller than Lu runs over. Youre
so sweet, says Lu. The little dog wags its tail.
As Lu and Mama walk on, the dog runs along with them.
Sometimes he runs ahead, sometimes to the right, and
sometimes to the left. Lu doesnt let him out of her sight.
Look what sweet company we have! Lu
exclaims. But the sounds of the market are
so loud that Mama doesnt hear her. Lu
tugs at Mamas coat. Look!
Uh-oh!
The woman who turns around definitely isnt Mama. Scared,
Lu turns in every direction. Mama is nowhere to be seen.
See, now youre lost, too, says someone in a sad voice.
So you are lost, says Lu. Why did you lie to me?
Instead of answering, the boy asks, What do we now?
First rule of being lost: keep still and shout! If
theres something on which you can stand a little
bit higher, climb on it and yell! Its best not to move
from that spot, so your parents can better find you.
Uh huh, says the boy and wipes the tears from
his eyes. He doesnt sound very convinced. What
if no one looks for you?
All parents look for their lost kids, says Lu.
Even if you were bad before? asks the boy.
Of course, says Lu. Parents always want to get
their children back.
Even if theyre terribly mad at you?
Even then, says Lu.
Phew, says the boy, relieved. But I think that
staying here and shouting isnt helping me at all.
Why not?
Ive already been here a while and run
here and there, but Papas nowhere to
be seen. Im sure well never find each
other again.
Nonsense, says Lu.
Rule number two: if you cant find each other, call them!
Lu climbs down from the crate. Well ask someone to call your father. Your
dad does have a cell phone with him, right?
Of course! The boy nods.
Do you know the number? I have our address on a piece of paper, but Mama
always plays it safe and thats why I have our number here on my arm.
The boy laughs. I know Dads number by heart. Im not a baby anymore.
It begins with 01...
and then 50... or 60?
Theres also a 7 and a 3.
Oh no, oh no, oh no, its
not coming to me!
Its all over now. I
know it! Ill never get
back home.
Nonsense, says Lu.
Rule number three: if none of this works,
we call the police.
The police? shouts the boy. I havent
committed any crimes!
No, silly, Lu says. The police arent
only there to catch criminals. The police
are also there to help us.
Really? asks the boy.
Of course, says Lu. Now we
just need someone who can call
them for us.
But thats easier said
than done. Lu asks a man,
but he has headphones on
his ears and cant hear her at
all. Then a woman answers her
in a totally foreign language.
At the fishmongers, Lu has
a breakthrough. I have a
cell phone, but we cant call
from here; its too loud. Come
with me to my car. It will work
better from there.
No, thank you! says Lu
pleasantly. I dont know you,
so I cant go with you!
Are you crazy? exclaims the boy once the fishmonger
has gone away.
Not at all! says Lu. Thats rule number four:
even if Im lost, I never go with just anyone.
What about me? Should I go sleep under a
bridge, then?
Nonsense, says Lu.
Now weve come to rule number five: if I
need to get help, I go to a place where there
are as many people as possible and where
someone can clearly see me.
How about the pharmacy? asks the boy.
Good idea, says Lu.
Ding-dong goes the doorbell as the two of
them enter the shop.
Good afternoon, Lu says to the pharmacist.
Were both lost. Could you perhaps call my
mother? And the police, too, please.
Do you have your mothers number? asks
the pharmacist kindly.
Yes, I do. But we need the police first.
He... Lu turns around. Whats your name,
by the way?
Roberto, says the boy.
Roberto has been lost for much longer than
I have.
Well then, says the pharmacist and picks
up the phone.
The police arrive very
quickly. They were
close by, eating lunch.
The pharmacist is just
about to dial Mamas
number when someone
else rushes into the
store. Its an older girl
and she is very upset.
Have you seen a little
dog? she asks.
Yes, I have!
Lu wants to
call out, but
then a man
comes running
inside. He is even
more upset than the girl.
His face is red as a tomato.
Have you seen a little
boy? he shouts.
Papa! yells Roberto.
The pharmacy is now packed. One of the policemen coaxes the
little dog into the store using the rest of his lunch. The pharmacist is