MISSING 

By Tessa Harvey

"God," Lisa prayed, "please help me not to keep seeing that dead lady's face. Please God!" Then she pulled up the bedcovers and soon fell asleep.

    She was dreaming. There was a river and she was walking along. The grass was very green. She thought of Psalm 23 - He makes me to lie down in green pastures. Primroses were blooming along a grey drystone wall. She sniffed their faint, lovely scent.

    A woman was walking ahead of her. There was a wild daffodil blooming low on the river bank. The woman reached for it, then was distracted by some very bright shiny yellow flowers. Lisa saw they were kingcups.

    The woman slid on the wet bank and fell into the river. The young girl was too far away to reach her, but then a man was shambling towards her. There was something odd about the way he moved, but he pulled the woman safely out. She was shivering and trembling. Clouds were covering the sun, a cool wind was springing up. The man smiled and pointed to some trees. Lisa could just see some kind of brown building like a house or barn.

    The woman nodded and moved to follow him. Lisa woke up.

    The following day felt like a dream. The lady had looked a bit like the woman she had seen dead, just cold and wet. Several teachers commented on her distraction, including her English teacher. The child liked her very much and began to tell her. Then the bell rang and they both had to go. "Later, Lisa?" queried the teacher with a caring look, but Lisa had to get home. It took two buses and a short walk.

    After tea, she was doing her homework when her dad came into the kitchen. She poured out her dream to him. "Dad, what if there is another woman missing? Please Dad, we have to help."

    Her dad was not convinced, but seeing how upset his daughter was, pleading with tears in her eyes, he promised to call the police tomorrow. He was on afternoon shift, so could call early. The girl slept better and there were no dreams.