The vanished child
Lily raised her son alone. Her husband, a reckless drunk, left her as soon as the baby was born. It was the grandfather who helped with the child and the bills. Lily could not imagine what she would have done without him.
After the divorce money was scarce; the exhusband never paid maintenance. Lily had to find work, and thats when the old man sighed and said,
Right then, you must go to work. George and I will mind Jack. Dont worry, Ill manage.
So Jack spent every day with his granddad. Lily felt a sting of jealousyJack clung to his grandfather like a shadow, while she vanished into the factory for hours, leaving little time for him.
One crisp morning Lily was pulling on her coat for the shift when Jack sprang up unusually early, eyes bright. Grandpa, lets go looking for mushrooms today, shall we?
Lily turned to the old man. Is that so, George? Where are we off to this time?
Into Ashdown Forest, he replied, they say the porcini are out. George loved mushrooms and fishing and had been teaching Jack the trade since he could walk.
Lily gave a quick nod. Just dont be out too late, okay?
The moment were done well haul a couple of buckets and head home, right, Jack? the grandfather winked.
They caught a bus to the edge of the town and then trudged on foot. Ashdown began just beyond the outskirts, a short trek even for a sevenyearold.
Before they reached the trees a car screeched to a halt beside them.
Oi, George, off to the woods again? the driver called, recognizing his old friend.
It was Arthur, a familiar local who ran his delivery van.
The porcini are supposed to be plenty, George answered.
Porcini? Theyve all been picked out there. Head over to Thornley Forest, theres still a good haul. Im heading that way now, want a lift?
Sure, if you dont mind, George said.
Arthur dropped them near Thornley and they agreed to try to hitch a ride back later, or call him if they got stuck.
Jack trotted ahead, chattering with his grandpa, who answered every one of the boys endless questions with patience. To Jack, George was a living encyclopedia, a hero who knew everything.
Mushrooms did indeed sprout everywhere. Lost in their hunt they ventured deeper into the woods when, without warning, the old man flailed his arms and collapsed.
Jack didnt jump at first. He ran to George, breathless, Grandpa, did you trip?
George lay still, not moving, not answering. Fear rose in Jacks chest. He strained, turned his grandfather onto his back and shook him, but there was no response.
Grandpa, get up! Please, Im scaredget up! Jack shouted, his voice cracking.
That night Lily came home to an empty house. She reached for her phone, only to find there was no signal. Did they not make it out of the forest? she thought, panic tightening around her throat.
An hour later her worry turned to frantic dread. Two hours later she stood in the police station, sputtering words at the officer on duty. The officer, his own face drawn, heard the plea, My child and his granddad are missing in the woods! They havent returned! and immediately summoned volunteers.
Rescue teams moved fast. Within two hours the first search party, together with Lilywho refused to sit idlefanned out into Ashdown Forest, the very place theyd been looking for.
Jack wailed at the motionless figure of his granddad, then whispered to himself, Calm down, love, what would you have taught me? Keep a clear head in trouble. Pull yourself together! He slapped his own cheeks, stopped crying, and thought, First, I need to know if hes breathing.
The thought terrified him mostwhat if he wasnt? He forced himself to lay his head on Georges chest. The chest rose, faintly but unmistakably.
Hes breathing! Hes breathing! Jack breathed a sigh of relief. Just wait, hell come round. He tried his phone againno signal. He simply waited.
Evening fell. While Jack sat, memories of Georges forestsurvival tips swirled.
If night comes and youre still out, the cold will bite you to death. You must act!
Jack fished a lighter from his pack, gathered dry twigs, and, after a few attempts, coaxed a small flame to life. Now gather enough wood before darkness deepens, he told himself, stacking branches from the pine saplings nearby and feeding them to the fire, keeping Georges back warm.
The nights sounds made Jacks throat tighten; the forest seemed to echo his own heartbeat. When the fire waned, he crawled out from under a mosscovered blanket and tossed more wood, whispering, I remember, Granddaddont let the fire die.
At dawn he sipped tea from his thermos, pouring half into Georges mouth, tilting his head up. Water is essential, he thought, eyes spotting a clear spring not far off.
He recalled the red berries growing on a bush nearby. Wolfs berriesdont eat them, George had warned. But Ill collect them for later. Jack filled the thermos with the glossy fruit, leaving a trail of ruby beads behind him.
Searches for the missing pair continued into the third day. Volunteers came from all over, driven by news of the lost boy and his grandfather.
Lily, eyes dark circles deep, flitted between rescue crews, pleading for relentless effort. She avoided the forest herself, exhaustion pressing down, yet a fierce love kept her upright.
On the fourth day a volunteer, gathering courage, approached Lily. Statistically, after three days in woods the odds of finding someone alive drop sharply. Weve scoured this area; beyond the trees lies a marsh. Perhaps we should look there.
No! Lily shrieked. George knew every path. He would never have led Jack into a marsh! Theyre alive, I know it! Keep looking!
On the fifth day Lily emerged from the trees, staggering. A passing car screeched to a halt, and out stepped Arthur, an old friend of her fathers.
Lily, what on earth is happening here? he asked, eyeing the volunteer trucks. The mention of the missing pair made his face blanch.
Five days ago I dropped them off at Thornley, he whispered.
Everyone, come here! Lily cried.
Hours later a young student volunteer, part of a group combing Thornley, caught the scent of smoke. He followed it to a faint ember where two figures lay under a mossy blanket.
He called softly, Jack?
One of the huddled shapes stirred; it was the boy.
Youve been looking for us so long, he croaked. Grandpa came around a few times; I gave him water and bread. Hes alive, just unconscious.
The soaked boy clutched his mothers hand as paramedics lifted the old man onto a stretcher.
Grandpa, stay with meyou have so much more to teach me, Jack whispered, tears mixing with the rain.
