A week later, Cave had made 28 dollars, and he was proud of himself. He put the money away into a little box he put under his bed. He was saving money for a cave exploring kit he seen in a magazine. His mom told him that if he wanted it, he had to earn the money himself. So that's exactly what he inteded to do. But now he didn't know what to do to make money now. He ran downstairs to ask his mother.

"Johanthan, what have we told you about running in the house?"

Cave looked at his dad. "Sorry." He slowed down to a walk.

"Mom, do you know another way I can make money?"

Mrs. Johnson smiled. "I don't know. Maybe you can ask that nice girl you met the other day. She might be able to help you." Mrs. Johnson hoped this would encourage him to make friends.

"I can't remember which house is hers."

Mrs. Johnson walked up to the screen door. Cave followed behind. "It's that house right there. Now, be careful crossing the street."

Cave looked at her confidently. "I'm 7 years old, Mom. I can handle it."

Mrs. Johnson chuckled. "Well, alright then."

Cave left his house and headed over to see Caroline.

...

Caroline was in her kitchen, trying to wash some dishes. At only 6 years old, it was hard for her to reach the sink, and she couldn't find anything to stand on. Her parents had promised they would be back today. She hoped so. They had been gone all week and she didn't like being alone.

She heard someone knock on the door. Hoping it was her parents she ran to answer it. She was a little disappointed to find it was just Cave from down the street.

"Oh, Hi." Caroline said.

"Hi. Your name is Caroline, right?"

She nodded.

"Good, glad I remembered that." he smiled.

She smiled back.

"Hey, I was wondering if you could help me. I want to buy a cave exploring kit, and I need a new way to make money. Mom said I should ask you if you had any ideas."

Caroline looked at him and shrugged. "I don't know. I never really thought much about making money."

"Oh. Well can I ask your parents. Maybe they would know."

Caroline shook her head. "They're not home right now."

Cave looked concerned. "Your all by yourself. That doesn't sound like fun."

Caroline shrugged. "I'm used to it."

"Well, maybe you can come over to my house. That way you won't be alone."

Caroline shook her head. "I can't. Mom and Dad are supposed to be home today. I have to stay here."

"Well, maybe I can ask my mom if I can stay here with you. I'll be right back."

Before Caroline could say anything, he was running back across the street to his house.

...

Cave ran through his front door and up to his mother, who was sitting on the couch watching T.V.

"Mom, can I stay over at Caroline's house."

"Did she ask her parents?"

Cave shook his head. "They're not home right now. That's why I want to go over there. So she won't be by herself."

Mrs. Johnson looked at him. "That little girl is all alone over there?"

Cave nodded.

"Tell you what. Let me talk to you Dad for a minute. Then we'll both go over there."

Cave nodded. "Ok."

Mrs. Johnson went to talk to her husbond. She told him she was going to be going over there to watch Caroline untill her parents got home. Then she put on her shoes and her and Cave walked over to Caroline's house.

Cave knocked on Caroline's door. She answered.

"Hey Caroline, me and my mom are going to stay here with you untill you parents get home."

Mrs. Johnson smiled and held out her hand. "Hi, Caroline. I'm Mrs. Johnson. I'm Johnathan's mom."

Caroline shook her hand. "Hi, Mrs. Johnson."

...

As they walked in, Mrs. Johnson noticed that it looked as though Caroline had been left alone for quite some time. There was a basket of dirty clothes, all of which looked like Caroline's, there was a pillow and a pink flower covered blanket on the couch, and the trash was piled up in the corner. Some of it was in another trash bag sitting on the floor next to the trash can.

"Who could leave a child this young alone for so long?"

"Do you know when your parents will be back?" Mrs. Johnsons asked.

Caroline shook her head. "The just said they would be back today."

"How long have they been gone?"

Caroline hesitated. "A while."

Mrs. Johnson knew it was more than just 'a while'.

"They must work really hard, huh?"

Caroline shrugged. "I guess."

"They probally didn't even tell her where they were going."

"Do they leave you alone alot?"

Caroline just looked at her for a minute and then looked at Cave.

"Do you want to see my room?" Caroline asked him.

"Ok." Cave said.

Mrs. Johnson watched as both kids ran off to Caroline's room. If her parents weren't home by nightfall, she was talking the little girl with her. No child should be left alone like that.