Hours Short Story

Looking out the kitchen window, I could see the buds beginning to sprout on the trees. I love spring but I knew it would fly and that Sarah would be starting school in September. As I stood and began finishing cleaning the breakfast bowls Sarah pulled my jumper.

“Can I go outside and play Mum?” she whispered

I bent over and kissed her head. Her hair was dark brown like mine and it was getting darker every day. I gazed into her big blue eyes.

“Ok pet, go out and play,” I answered.

As I finished the dishes, I watched Sarah playing from the window. She always played in the back garden. Matt built her a swing set with a climbing frame beside it.

She could spend all day playing on it and never get bored on her own. Sarah was an only child. I worried that she was lonely. When Sarah was born I was lucky that we both survived. There were complications and I was told that I could never have any more children. Matt and I would love more children and are thinking about adoption.

I would never get the housework done standing here watching Sarah. I took one final look at her climbing the ladder of the slide, and then I headed to the bedrooms. I cleaned the bedrooms, living room and play room and decided it was time for Sarah to come in. She had been playing for a long time. I walked to the back door and looked at the swings. Sarah was nowhere to be seen.

I quickly scanned the rest of the yard, no Sarah. Then I saw the side gate open. Sarah would never open it without asking. I ran to the gate. No sign of Sarah. Then the neighbour’s houses and still I didn’t see her. I walked quickly to Mrs.Quinn’s house. She was an old lady who often gave Sarah sweets or biscuits. I knocked on the door.

“Hello, Mrs.Quinn have you seen Sarah today?” I asked.

My head was repeating please say yes please say yes.

“Not today. Is she missing?” she replied.

When I shook my head she stood outside the door.

“I wasn’t trying to be nosy. But when I was getting my post this morning I noticed a blue car parked outside your house with a young man inside. Maybe Sarah was with him,” she explained.

I began to get worried “What young man?”

Mrs.Quinn shrugged her shoulders.

“I have never seen him before. He looked lost or nervous,” she replied.

I thanked Mrs.Quinn and ran straight home. I called Officer David Molloy first and explained to him what happened. While I was waiting for him to arrive I rang Matt. He broke down crying and assured me he was on his way home. Officer David arrived