The Case of April Gibson

“April, ready to go to the shops?” Mama asked me as I turned to her from my pasta bowl, “Yes mama. Let me put my bowl away first.”

I rushed to the sink, filled with dishes, and pushed them aside as I turned on the faucet and watched the water clean out the remaining sauce in my special purple bowl.

Mama stared at me sternly, “Hurry up April! Everything is about to close!”

“Sorry. Just one more second.” I put the bowl in the sink and ran for my shoes, tripping on the doormat when I stopped. I pulled up my black, slightly tapered shoes onto my feet and tied them as fast as I could.

As I threw on my coat over my polka-dot dress, I looked at Mama, “Okay, I’m ready now!”

“Good,” She smiled, “Let’s go then.” I nodded as she opened the door and we ran out the house.

“We need to get lots of things, so we better make this quick.” Mama said, sighing slightly as she opened the door and clicked her seat belt.

I followed and did the same as I waited for her to start the car. I quickly shut the door, almost forgetting.

Mama started the car, its gray engines roaring in the quiet driveway, “Let’s go!”

I smiled and rolled down my window, putting my warm hand out to hang, letting the cold raindrops trickle down my skin.

“April..” Mama sighed, “okay then..”

I layed back and closed my eyes as the rain gave my arm a thorough massage, as I came close to falling asleep. I stopped myself though.

Mama honked her horn, “What is up with ya, huh?! SPEED IT UP!!” I giggled as I watched her scream at the baby blue car in front of us.

As we pulled into the Macy’s parking lot, I rolled up my window and looked at my drenched hand as it dripped and sunk into my stockings.

The voices of busy shoppers went through, piercing my ears as a baby cried for a binky and some milk.

I strolled through the humongous crowd, clenching my mama’s fist. I felt as if my hand was slipping away, a cold hand forcing me to go.

“Mama, I wanna go home!” I bellowed, scared of getting lost. Mama replied, “No, we haven’t got to the shops yet, hun. Be patient.”

I started to quiver. What if I were taken away? Who is grabbing my wrist? Why is this person grabbing my wrist..?

The force got stronger. I tried to push against it, though I was too weak. I whimpered, trying to cling to mama even harder. As I felt my body slipping backwards, I started to yelp. It was as if no one heard me.. It was as if the world had ended.