Maxine's story
We'd
stopped to buy some sweets in Woolworths. I let go of Helen's
hand to open my purse. I turned round. She wasn't there.
I
thought she couldn't be far away. It had only been a minute.
(In those days Woolworth's had high counters with room between
where a small child could easily hide.) Looking round the
nearest counters, I called her name softly. There was no
reply. Now I was beginning to panic. I searched further
away and called her name louder聟 Nothing.
Where
was she? I was really worried. Perhaps she could've gone
back to the car, parked outside the back. I dashed outside,
but she wasn't at the car. In that time she could've gone
out of the front entrance. I rushed outside to the market
square. No Helen anywhere.
I
turned back into the shop and ran up and down aisles shouting
her name. I stopped people to ask if they'd seen my little
girl. They just shook their heads. I continued my flight.
I couldn't stop running.
A
young man suddenly stopped me.
'Have
you lost a little girl?'
I nodded.
'There's
one playing about in the photograph booth'
I
raced across to the booth, flung back the curtain
There
she was. Happy. She was pulling faces at herself in the
mirror.
The relief, the absolute joy.
I
hugged her so tight. I vowed I'd never let go of her hand
again.
Helen
is grown up now and doesn't remember getting lost in Woollies,
but I'll never forget the day I thought I'd lost my little
girl.
