Madeline

Jack checked his watch and wondered why Gerry had not phoned in, as he hadn’t arrived for work that morning. It was unlike Gerry. Jack decided not to worry about it, whatever the reason he was sure Gerry would explain in due course.

Later in the morning, with a mounting problem with the computer network, Jack dialled Gerry's home phone number and was greeted with a child's whisper. “Hello?”

“Is your daddy home?” Jack asked.

“Yes,” whispered the small voice.

“May I talk with him?'

The child whispered, “No.”

Surprised and wanting to talk with an adult, Jack asked, “Is your Mummy there?'

“Yes”

“May I talk with her?”

Again the small voice whispered, “No.”

Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, Jack asked, “Is anybody else there?”

“Yes,” whispered the child. “A policeman.”

Wondering what a cop would be doing at Gerry's home, Jack asked, "May I speak with the policeman?"

“No, he's busy,” whispered the child.

“Busy doing what?”

“Talking to Daddy and Mummy and the Fireman,” she whispered.

Suddenly, there was the sound of a loud engine in the background, Jack asked, a little startled, “What is that noise?”

“A helicopter,” answered the whispering voice.

“What is going on there?” demanded Jack, now truly concerned.

Again, whispering, the child answered, “The search team just landed a helicopter.”

Alarmed and a little frustrated Jack asked, “What are they searching for?”

Still whispering, the young voice replied, with a muffled giggle, “Me.”