Posted by hummingbird on 11/27/2013, 7:49 am VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
CHAPTER EIGHT
Destiny zipped Drew’s coat and helped him with his hat and mittens. “We’re finished for tonight, Drew. Come on. Let’s go home,” she said gathering up her shopping bags. A very tired and cranky little boy reached for her hand, but both hands were full.
“I don’t have a hand, Buddy. You’ll just have to hold onto Mommy’s coat. Stay with me now as we go to the car, okay?”
Drew grabbed her coat tail as they left the mall. Snow was still falling softly. Drew loved snow and liked to catch flakes on his dark blue mittens. Grandpa had shown him how snowflakes all had six points and looked different from each other. Drew was fascinated and was reaching with both hands to catch them.
“Stay with me, Drew,” she reminded him.
As they approached their car, Destiny heard a moan and then a voice calling weakly, “Help me. Someone, please help me…” She turned to see an old man lying face down on the pavement. She dropped her bags where they were and hurried over to be of help.
“Are you okay? she asked. “Are you hurt? Do you need me to call someone?”
“I’m not sure. I think I’m alright,” the old man mumbled. “Slipped on the ice. Help me up...please,” he said.
Destiny helped him carefully to his feet. “Guess I shouldn’t be out on a night like this,” the old man said, breathlessly. “Wasn’t snowin’ when I left the house.” He looked around. “Can’t find my cane. Do you see my cane?”
Destiny spotted the cane a few feet away half hidden under the back of a nearby car. She went to retrieve it, but when she turned to give it back to him, the old man was gone.
“Sir?”she asked into the swirling darkness.
She looked all around her, but the old man was nowhere to be found. It was then that she realized Drew was no longer holding onto her. “Drew?” she said into the darkness. “Drew?” she called. She ran to her car and looked all around. “Drew! Answer Mommy! DREW! DREW!”
By this time she was panicked and crying looking throughout the rows of cars. “DREW! DREW! Oh God, please…help me! SOMEBODY! SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!” she shouted.
By this time several shoppers had taken notice of Destiny and had come to see what was wrong.
“My little boy! He’s gone! I turned around and he was gone! Please help me find him. HELP ME!” she begged.