Written for Pancreatic Cancer UK, to fundraise and raise awareness after losing my dad to this awful illness November 2020.

Part three of a five part story.

The Shadow

Since his strange sighting Jamie is convinced that the shadow is communicating with the children.  They are too calm about their missing friends. When asked they deny knowing anything, just dismiss it saying they are safe.  The police appear confused, no trace is left, no evidence of a struggle, as if the children go willingly.   Why would they want to leave?

These last weeks I have met with other mums, the conversation has neared hysteria. The unrest in the village is uncomfortable and as more vanish the intensity continues to increase.  Twenty five children missing, the police are in a state of disarray.  The theory of a Pied Piper was surely not unbelievable.  All families had been questioned and no one knew anything.  When was this going to end?

A plan

As Hannah sat gazing out of the window, trying to see something in the darkness, she thought of her friend, Rosie.   Days ago, she had messaged asking her to come with her to the better place.  Away with the shadow man to where everything is good.  Someone had to rescue them, she had seen the upset it had caused in the village.  They all belonged here, not in some blissful no where world.  Their parents need them, and they need their parents.

Hannah was nearly ten, but she knew she could do this.  She couldn’t take Joe as mum needs him, they couldn’t lose both of them. Somehow, she needed to get the children back, they were otherwise stuck there.  Making the decision to tell Joe before she left, she got down from her windowsill and climbed into bed.

As she closed her eyes, she could see Joe and then the Shadow man.  They were talking and then they disappeared.  Drifting off to sleep she forgot what she had seen until the next morning.

Joe

Waking up to my worst nightmare, I hear Jamie sobbing.

“Joseph’s missing, Hannah’s in bed asleep but Joe’s gone, he’s gone.”

I felt a coldness enter me, then heat like I was going to pass out.  This can’t be happening, not my child, not my boy.

“He can’t be missing, he wouldn’t”

“He’s gone, he’s not here.”

Sitting up in bed I now put my arms around my knees and cuddled myself in tight before the tears started to fall like an endless torrent.   How was this mystery going to be solved? Would the children ever come home?  Some had been missing five weeks now, where were they?

I could hear Jamie talking to the police as Hannah now came in crying and cuddled up to me.  Holding her tight, I need to be strong for her but how can I be?

“Mummy, he will come home soon, he will.”

“How do you know that?”

“I can’t say Mummy, but he’ll be back.

“What’s going on Hannah?”

“I’m not allowed to say, but Joe will be back, you’ll see.”

The fields

Holding her close, I thought about this, was Joseph trying to play the hero?  Things here are bigger than us, how are they going to be found?  The police seem to be doing nothing, but the media are still creating mayhem.

From my bed I can see over the garden and to the fields behind.  The sky is a pale blue, the clouds creating their usual cotton wool patchwork.  Everything out there appears normal, but it can’t be.  They haven’t been normal for weeks.  Staring hard at the far-off fields I know I’m missing something, but what?  What are we all not seeing? When will this nightmare end and the children return home?

I look down at Hannah, feeling her warmth I kiss her on the head.  If she is right, then this will be over soon.  Wiping my eyes, I know we both need to face the day ahead, for now though I just want to stay here, holding Hannah for as long as possible, I can’t lose her too.

Written for A story a day for Pancreatic Cancer UK

Here is my fundraising page if you would like to donate, any size donation is appreciated.

Written for Pancreatic Cancer UK to fundraise and help raise awareness, after losing my dad to this awful illness in November 2020

Part two of a five part story,

Missing children

With fifteen children now missing a sense of panic has descended over the village.  The school has upped their security but many parents including us are keeping their children home.  Adopting a home school and no intention of leaving the house approach.  Halloween was well and truly behind us, but it felt like the ‘Pied Piper’ has visited with his magic pipe and lured the children away like in the nursery rhyme.

Could it be as simple as the children taken away due to a vendetta?  I can’t help wondering about the supernatural, but I think aliens is a step too far.   So many ideas on what is happening, and all the police are saying is to ensure your children are with someone you trust.

Watching Hannah and Joseph doing their schoolwork, I’m proud that they can focus with everything that is going on.   Joseph doesn’t seem concerned about his missing friend Billy, and keeps saying that he will be alright.

Panicking

I have wondered if they knew something we don’t.  They seem almost happy with the situation as the adults are panicking.   The media has blown it up, now no children are to be heard playing in the street or playpark.  This is a different world, an unreal life.  I run my hands through my hair, and pick up the television remote.

“Mum put that down”

“Mum, listen to Joe, no”

Ignoring them I push the on button.  As I heard the news reader announce another missing child, I started to cry and as my phone rang, I knew who it was.

Vicky had only left Bradley for a few minutes.  She had run to the shop for bread, came home and found him gone. Someone had snatched him, the four walls and television had not protected him, he had disappeared like the others.

Hannah

Just nine and a half, Hannah was a sensible child, she knew right from wrong.  Listening to the man at night had made her wonder about things.  A better world away from here, no one telling her what to do, no parent making her go to school.  She knew others who had gone, and the man had mentioned Bradley. She liked Bradley he had always been kind to her at school.   If he had gone, maybe she could.  She looked at Joseph concentrating on his maths, telling herself she would only go if Joseph did, she went back to her spellings.  Hearing her mum’s conversation, she wished that she could come to the better place as well, but no grown ups are allowed.

Joseph

Eleven years old, Joseph enjoyed school and liked living in the village.  He had seen the man too and since Billy had left, been tempted to cross to see him.  Billy had spoken to him about the better place and had been arguing with his mum, but Joseph did not expect him to actually go. Nothing had been said about how they get home.  Listening to his parents he had been tempted to tell them about the better place, but the man said that if any of the children told a grown up then all of them would suffer.

The next morning

I wake up suddenly to Jamie shouting.  Something was wrong and I thought of the children.

“There’s a shadow, a black shadow.”

“Where Jamie, where?”

“It was outside Hannah’s room, what was it?”

Does it have something to do with the missing children? Had Jamie just imagined it?

Written for A story a day for Pancreatic Cancer UK

Here is my fundraising page if you would like to donate, any size donation is appreciated.

Written for Pancreatic Cancer UK to help raise awareness and fundraise after losing my dad to this awful disease November 2020

Part one of a five part story

Fireworks

As the flames jump higher, the stuffed guy at the top begins its descent.  I look over at the children smiling happily at the figure, now lashed brutally by the orange tendrils. As the fireworks whizz and pop, the cheers from Hannah and Joseph reinforce that they are enjoying this more than me.   I’ve never enjoyed large crowds, tonight was no different.  Counting down the hours, minutes, I want to go home. Jamie next to me is excited at the rocket crashing overhead.

My family always come first, before anything, in this case me.  I would have been happy watching fireworks from our garden, but Jamie insisted we go to the display. Standing here, rocking from one leg to the other, most of the village must be here tonight.  As the bangs and crashes fill the sky, I can’t help but wonder just how much money has burnt here tonight, all for the sake of a good time.  All in recognition of a man who tried to burn down the Houses of Parliament.  Why do we celebrate this?  Guy Fawkes did indeed make history with his misdemeanour; I wonder what he would think of us sacrificing a copy of him every year. Would he be proud of his actions?

It was just days ago that the children insisted on trick and treating. I had said no as don’t agree with scaring people to give them sweets. Jamie gave in telling me, it’s just once a year and they have worked hard at school this year and deserved it.  He went out with them, supervising and ensuring they didn’t play any cruel jokes.  Not everyone wants to contribute towards my children’s teeth rotting away.

Missing children

I’ve always found Halloween creepy, as it is supposed to be, but this year children went missing. The thought of losing my kids makes me feel ill, but at Halloween somehow makes it worse.  The stories being told are not amusing and the thought that we are starring in a poorly scripted horror movie makes it worse.  The children have their own version of what is happening, me I’m full of dread.  Jamie says there is a logical explanation, the police have not said much, it is just the media that are making it sound terrifying.

Distracted by Hannah, pulling on my sleeve,

“Mummy we are going, its finished.”  Awoken from my thoughts, I took her hand, relieved,

“Come on then.”

A few days later

November 5^th is over, October 31^st should also have been.  The pumpkin remains are long gone; the Pumpkin pie eaten.  However, the headline on the daily newspaper sent a cold chill through me.

‘Boy missing from North Park School’

Another child and this one I knew.  Billy was sat at our dinner table a week ago and now he has disappeared.    Do I send the children to school? Is someone watching it?

As Joseph appears on the stairs, Jamie makes my decision for me.

“Kids, we are all staying at home today”.  Hannah and Joseph whooped at a day of television. Then he whispered.

“Someone took Billy, they are not having our children.”

Is this a Halloween joke? What is happening? Where are the children?

Written for A story a day for Pancreatic Cancer UK – Just muddling through life

Here is my fundraising page  if you would like to donate. Any size donation is appreciated.