The KIDNAPPED Children

Katrina had always been touched by the pathos in her mother’s voice when she told her of the lost children.
She remembered so clearly the first time she had heard it. It had been early in the morning while she gazed in wonder at the rose tinted sky before her. Since they were sitting in the gazebo that Father had built, the air was heavily scented with the roses growing on trellises all around it. Mother had been with swift deft fingers shelling peas, but then her hands lay idle as that faraway look came into her eyes.

            “It was the year you turned six. In fact the very day you turned six, and we were celebrating your birthday party. Flowers in abundance were being gathered to grace the little outdoor tables for you and a dozen of your sweet companions. The servants were bustling about placing snowy white tablecloths on all the rounded tables. Indoors the cook was sculpturing the ice cream into a marvelous snow castle while a hired assistant created a fairy tale palace out of a high, lovely angel food cake.

            You were giddy with excitement and it was almost impossible to keep you out of the kitchen so we got you and your little friends to tie a balloon on to each chair. Your hero brother, Jared, would help you tie them in place.

            Someone shouted that that the clown had arrived, and the magician.

            “Yes, yes, “I called scurrying around to gather up all the tea cups and saucers that were part of the children’s tea set. These were an exceptionally lovely gift from your Grandmother Fair because they were all shaped like rainbow colored tulips with saucers to match.

            Someone else shouted; “There’s a pirate! Hey look, there are lots of pirates! “

            I quirked an eye brow because we hadn’t hired any pirates for our entertainment, but continued swishing the delicate china tea set through glistening bubbles of sudsy water.

            The giggles and babbling voices increased then suddenly ceased.

            ‘Whatever is going on?’ I muttered.

            ‘Oh, probably nothing,’ Your Aunt Linda took another dish from me, dried it and placed it into the charming basket where it belonged. “They are probably playing Hide and Go Seek. Your park -like yard is almost like a forest with all those wonderful, huge trees to hide behind.”

            Still I was feeling uneasy.

            Jared came in just then. “What’s up?” I asked.

            “They are playing Hide n Go Seek. That clown is marvelous way of making the kids happy.”

            “Good.” I handed the basket of dishes to him. “I just need to get the fairy napkins and we’ll be ready to start. What’s this about pirates that I heard through the open window?”

            “Pirates,” Jared looked puzzled. “I never saw any. But then there are children swarming all around the house. I could have missed them. You got your hands full, Mother!”

            “Go out quickly and see if the children are safe!” I cried urgently.

            Everyone in the kitchen turned and stared at me as if they thought I was crazy. But my heart was hammering. Hard.