Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-28199808-20160413142412

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Hi Mike

Hope you are well and enjoying life down under?

Things haven't been so good back here in my small town of Whitnash, in fact we are currently living a nightmare, a local nine year old girl by the name of Marie Goulding went missing from the local park in Fever field last week (the 5th).

To make matters worse it has conjoured up memories of the case of little Terry Stevenson who went missing never to be found over 30 years ago. It feels like a case of history repeating.

From what I know (from the news and my friends mum who knows Marie's mum Elaine) she went to the very same park almost every day after school has it is on the way home, they live in Central Avenue close to Avon River that runs through close to the park. It is only a small place with two swings, a slide and a mini roundabout and is situated near a sort of housing estate on one side and a larger green area that leads to a forest on the other.

Elaine told my friends mum that it was a typical day in terms of the routine, they were up and rushing around getting ready for school while Marie told her mum all about the daffodils she was in charge of looking after at school and how many time she planned to water them that day all the while Elaine was making the sandwiches while answering Marie to show interest in what she was being told. At least she was happy that morning though. Apparently Marie had told her mum that the day before she had meant to be marrying her best friend Ralphy during the lunch period but at some point he had changed his mind and decided to marry her friend instead. However cute this may all sound Marie was said to be devastated by the whole thing and had to be consoled for most of the evening. By Tuesday morning however she was her normal bubbly self again and couldn't wait to get to school ( Tuesday's was story time, her favourite subject) and she had asked her mum to do her blonde hair in pig tails so she could look like Rapunzel.

Elaine mentioned that Marie had tried to negotiate taking her favourite teddy with her to school that day with the promise she would keep it safe in her book bag, Elaine declined the request but promised Marie she would have her favourite dinner (Meatballs) ready for when she got home from the park later that day.

Marie always had to leave the park and be home no later than 16:00, this was to ensure she was home in time for dinner and she was not out alone in the dark.

Learning all this and seeing the home videos being played on the local news makes it all the more heart breaking.

On the day it happened Elaine had lost track of time due to cooking, when she looked at the time it was 16:30, Elaine immediately run out the house and towards the park has fast has her legs would carry her. When she arrived to find the park empty she run in to the busy rush hour traffic screaming her daughter's name almost getting herself run over in the process. I was told she needed medical attention.

People in the local community have been supportive and visitors have commented how gaunt Elaine is looking, everyone is concerned for her welfare. She constantly relived that day and all the things she might have done differently, people try and explain that it's no good thinking that way but it's of little help to her.

Mike it's like a giant black cloud is hanging over the entire town, everywhere you go missing posters are up (in it she is wearing her grey school uniform, it's one of those formal photos) and people are talking about it, a few, including the news outlets have started to reference the Terry Stevenson case has if somehow connected despite the three decades between them.

We all hope this case has a happier ending, no trace of Terry has ever been found, not even a sighting. There is still a very eerie atmosphere at Leamington Spa Rail station, if you remember it is the scene of Terrys mums suicide by jumping off the roof because she couldn't bare not knowing the fate of her only child.

So far not a single witness has come forward or clue found, there are daily search parties and I am involved in tonight's. We head off at 18:00 and finish around midnight, tonight we are searching the surrounding wooded area while others are handing out the posters in neighbouring towns such has Rugby and Warwick.

I must start getting ready now, it's been a little relief getting this off my chest to someone who is not involved in it all, please let me know some of the fun things you are getting up to, and I will keep you updated of any development s.

Speak soon old friend

Jay 