A PROMISE

CHAPTER 1:POLICE SIRENS

It was a Wednesday afternoon at a crime scene. Except it wasn’t one of papa’s games.

Papa was handcuffed and pushed against a police car. He was talking the man in the uniform with a tense face and a few strands of his hair in his eyes. I, Grace Henderson, was held back by another large man. If it weren’t for him, I’d have run to papa with my tears. But I couldn’t. the man held my right arm firmly, a bit too firm I’d say.

Drenched in panic, I looked from left to right, I looked for mum. She was on the floor next to the grey couch. Lying in an odd position with blood oozing out of her abdomen. Why wouldn’t she get up? Even when I hollered in agony  “mum! Mum!!! Mum, they’re taking papa away. Do something mum!”  She never took a step since that day. Sometimes I wish I could teach her how to walk, the way she taught me.

I reached to the point where I could taste my tears. That was when I heard papa yell “Grace I’ll be back. Be patient for me. I promise,” and he was dragged into the car. I looked him in the eye until he was no longer there. But his re-assuring statement brought some balance to my heart.