Lara is a big girl. Even mommy said so. Mommy rarely says anything nice to Lara; usually, she just gets yelled at. Don't draw on the walls, don't touch this or that, don't run around in the house or jump on the sofa. But today is different. Today mommy told her she's a big girl, and even gave her a mission.

Honestly, the mission was boring, as all important missions were. Lara was supposed to simply sit there, on the sidewalk, and watch the car, because mommy had to run somewhere for 'just a minute'. Lara didn't know how long a minute was, but apparently, it was a very long time.

For a while, she endured. That was her chance to prove herself, and she couldn't mess this up. But as time went on, her resolve wavered. This couldn't be all there was to such an important mission, surely there was something for her to actually do.

Lara got up and looked around. There had to be a better way to watch the car. For example, she couldn't see all sides of the car at once, how was she supposed to guard it? Then, a brilliant idea struck: she should watch the car from the inside!

Lara quickly climbed onto the passenger seat, and with great effort managed to close the door behind her. Then, just for good measure, she pushed the little knob to lock the car. That's it. The car is now secure. Mission accomplished.

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It was a very hot day, and the streets were mostly empty. The occasional passerby could be seen scurrying around, trying to reach their air-conditioned destination as fast as possible. In a parked car somewhere, a little girl had started to sweat.

Why is it so hot in here? Lara wasn't sure. It was never this hot in the car. Usually, there was cold air coming from the vents in front, or from the windows. Windows! She should open them. Lara hurriedly reached for the small button, and pushed. Nothing happened. The button did not work. The air vents did not work either. A sudden realization hit her. Nothing is working. Something is wrong with the car! She had to get out of there.

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Opening the door was somewhat complicated, but Lara knew how to do this. She had to pull the handle and push the door at the same time. Be calm. Focus. She can do this. Lara is a big girl after all. Why isn't the door opening? No, wait, that's not it. The door is locked. she locked it herself. It was getting harder and harder to breathe.

Pushing the lock knob did nothing. No, wrong again. She's supposed to pull it. Never done it before. Her little fingers tried and failed to get a grip on the small stick. Then again, and again.

The air was burning around her. She had failed. She had to get help. Only now she noticed a small crowd forming in the previously empty street.

"Help! Mommy! HELP!" she screamed, again and again, little fists hitting the glass.  Some people were clearly trying to speak to her, but she couldn't hear their voices. Someone seemed to try and explain to her, with hand gestures, how to unlock the door. She already knew this though, tried and failed.

She tried to scream again, but couldn't. Her throat was so dry it was painful. One person was trying to pick the lock, another checking the other doors, just in case. She saw someone making a phone call, maybe to mommy, maybe the police? Lara didn't know. It was hard to even think anymore. Everything began to blur around her.

CRASH! A loud sound startled her from behind, and a wave of cool air followed. Lara could breathe again. She never knew air could taste so sweet. With the last of her strength, she turned around to see a broken window, a big rock on the driver's seat, and a head of red, wavy hair disappearing around the corner of the street.

A siren could be heard from a distance. A pale woman burst out of a nearby building, and ran towards the car.

Mommy!