A boy’s bravery saves a little girl from the unimaginable.
![Stopping A Kidnapper Stopping A Kidnapper](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/5844/223203/59242cdc9560d/Stopping-A-Kidnapper.jpg)
IT WAS A SCENE Norman Rockwell might have painted: three kids laughing as they took turns riding a scooter on their quiet street. Last December, on a crisp Saturday afternoon in Wichita Falls, Texas, 11-year old TJ Smith had just jumped off the scooter as his neighbor Kim,* age 7, claimed her turn and her sister Julie,* 9, looked on. Kim straddled the scooter and paused to catch her breath. That was when the bearded man with a head of messy curls appeared. The kids didn’t see where he came from, but they know exactly what happened next: Without uttering a word, he picked Kim up off the scooter and calmly strode away.
“He cradled her like a baby and just walked down the street,” says TJ. In fact, the composed way the man held Kim led TJ to believe he must have been a relative. But something wasn’t right. “I could see her face,” TJ said. “She was scared.”
This story is from the June 2017 edition of Reader's Digest US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2017 edition of Reader's Digest US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![Cookies for Forgiveness Cookies for Forgiveness](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5844/1906386/MapiScaFs1732538049827/COOKIES-FOR-FORGIVENESS.jpg)
Cookies for Forgiveness
My blowup was half-baked. The apology wasn't
![Puff the Magic Pastry Puff the Magic Pastry](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5844/1906386/kU28cPBah1732537944885/PUFF-THE-MAGIC-PASTRY.jpg)
Puff the Magic Pastry
It always rises to the occasion
![New Year's Traditions Around the World New Year's Traditions Around the World](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5844/1906386/mHljjOSvI1732537737474/NEW-YEARS-TRADITIONS-AROUND-THE-WORLD.jpg)
New Year's Traditions Around the World
1 MOST OF US spend the final seconds of each calendar year watching a nearly 12,000-pound geodesic sphere descend over Times Square in New York City.
![Mom's Wall-Sign Wisdom Mom's Wall-Sign Wisdom](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5844/1906386/zSHtYKmv21732537492631/MOMS-WALLSIGN-WISDOM.jpg)
Mom's Wall-Sign Wisdom
She never met a plaque or bumper sticker she didn't quote
![Protect Your 'Holiday Heart' Protect Your 'Holiday Heart'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5844/1906386/Tg8br7TaR1732537306580/PROTECT-YOUR-HOLIDAY-HEART.jpg)
Protect Your 'Holiday Heart'
This joyful time of year can also be dangerously stressful
![Heroes of the Holidays Heroes of the Holidays](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5844/1906386/G9PudienR1732535993668/HEROES-OF-THE-HOLIDAYS.jpg)
Heroes of the Holidays
It's not just Santa Claus bringing the holiday magic this season. As you'll see, he's got elves all over.
![The Man Who Looks After His Wife's Ex The Man Who Looks After His Wife's Ex](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5844/1906386/mT_CWd7eL1732535665992/THE-MAN-WHO-LOOKS-AFTER-HIS-WIFES-EX.jpg)
The Man Who Looks After His Wife's Ex
For him and his bride, \"in sickness and in health\" meant something really special
![How Risky Are Those Holiday Cocktails, Really? How Risky Are Those Holiday Cocktails, Really?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5844/1906386/NtGMMLaL81732535359483/HOW-RISKY-ARE-THOSE-HOLIDAY-COCKTAILS-REALLY.jpg)
How Risky Are Those Holiday Cocktails, Really?
The latest recommendations about drinking and your health
![HOW ONE KENTUCKY TOWN SAVED ITSELF HOW ONE KENTUCKY TOWN SAVED ITSELF](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5844/1906386/O08P3dbis1732534707421/HOW-ONE-KENTUCKY-TOWN-SAVED-ITSELF.jpg)
HOW ONE KENTUCKY TOWN SAVED ITSELF
Downtown Hazard had lost its small-town mojo to drugs. Former addicts are helping to bring it back.
![Dream It, Do It, Done! Dream It, Do It, Done!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5844/1906386/USxgWPFOL1732534454210/DREAM-IT-DO-IT-DONE.jpg)
Dream It, Do It, Done!
Your bucket-list goals, accomplished