Chapter 3

Melody shut her eyes tight as she held her ball in her face, preparing for the car to crash into her. But the car's aim never came. Melody felt herself being swept off her feet by a pair of slender and soft arms. Somebody saved her! When she was gently dropped onto the sidewalk on her feet, her eyes opened. Melody found herself face to face with a young woman who bended her knees to meet Melody's level. She is a petite woman with long red hair and baby blue eyes. The young woman was also, wearing a purple tank вверх and a green юбка with matching shoes.

"Are Ты okay, honey?" the young woman asked, gently. She hoped the kid is all right. It must have been a shock for her to get almost run over by a car!

Melody is a little surprised. No one has ever called her 'honey' before.

"I think so," сказал(-а) Melody, still a little bit shaken. "W-who are you?"

"I'm Ariel Benson," Ariel smiled. "What is your name?"

Melody felt a little bit nervous answering, but this lady seemed really friendly. Why else would she save Melody then, if she was not a nice person?

"Melody Sylvia Banes," Melody answered.

"What were Ты doing in the streets, Melody?" Ariel asked.

"I was getting my ball," сказал(-а) Melody as she showed her ball to Ariel. "I..was..practicing it when I kicked too..far," Melody suddenly felt a fear in her heart. Her dad had warned her not to go into the streets! She felt completely embarrassed in front of Ariel!

"I didn't know the улица, уличный light was green! I didn't know what I was thinking! Really! Please don't think I'm stupid!" She cried. Ariel put her arms around Melody to calm her. She felt bad for the girl and could see that she was crying.

"Don't worry, it's alright," she said, soothingly. "Everybody makes mistakes." Melody softened a little, but it still didn't stop her tears from falling.

"What will my Daddy say? He'll spank me!" She cried.

"It's okay. I am sure your father will understand," Ariel said, kindly. She rubbed Melody's back to calm down her sobs. Tears stopped falling, as Melody began to calm down. Just then, they heard a young masculine voice calling.

"Melody, Melody!" Eric came running from the park and onto the sidewalk, looking pale. He was frantically looking for Melody. He hoped that his eyes were tricking him when he saw her running toward the street. His fears ceased when he saw Melody running to him.

"Daddy!" Eric embraced her.

"Melody, why were Ты running in the streets?" Eric asked, angrily, as he shook Melody by her shoulders. "Do Ты have any idea how scared I was? What were Ты thinking?"

Melody cowed in shame. "I'm sorry!" she said.

"You should know better than to-"

"Wait, Sir!"

Eric turned to see Ariel who just came over to them.

"Your daughter did not mean to run in the streets. Her ball ran away and she was trying to retrieve it," She explained. Eric studied her from toe to head and took in her figure.

Wow! She looks beauti-d'oh! Snap out of it, Eric! While he was thinking that, Ariel had also been studying Eric from toe to head.

Oh, he looks very handsome, she thought to herself, dreamily.

"Um, who are you, miss?" he asked, after getting himself out of his thoughts.

"Hmm what?" Ariel was snapped back into reality also.

"Daddy, this is Ariel Benson! She saved my life!" сказал(-а) Melody, cheerfully.

"Did she?" Eric asked.

"Yes, sir, I did," сказал(-а) Ariel.

"Thank Ты for saving my daughter, Miss Benson," сказал(-а) Eric, politely.

"It is no problem at all, sir," сказал(-а) Ariel, gratefully.

"My name is Eric. Eric Daniel Banes, so don't call me, 'sir." Eric growled.

"Sorry, I will remember that, Mr. Banes," сказал(-а) Ariel, politely, ignoring Eric's annoyed tone.

Eric was about to say something to her when they heard a young boy's voice calling Ariel from outside the deli. "Ariel, let's go! Daddy's waiting for us!"

"I have to go," сказал(-а) Ariel, with an apologetically smile. She almost forgot that her brother, Flounder, was waiting for her.

"Wait, Miss Benson!" сказал(-а) Eric, before Ariel turned to leave. "Do Ты want to have ужин with us tomorrow evening; just to thank Ты for saving my daughter's life?"

"Sure, Mr. Banes," smiled Ariel. "Where will I meet Ты and Melody?"

"At our house; here is my address," сказал(-а) Eric, as he gave her his business card. Ariel took the card. "Thank you," сказал(-а) Ariel. Then she bade them goodbye and left with Flounder.

Melody lit up like a Рождество tree. "Hurray! She's coming over tomorrow!" she shouted as she jumped up and down. "We are going to play together!"

Then an idea hit Eric. Ariel could be the nanny he's looking for! But will she accept his job offer? What if she already has a job?