Bonzer Words!: Where Is Beverley?
Violet Apted tells of a mother's worst nightmare. Her two-year-old daughter Beverley has disappeared...
Violet writes for Bonzer! magazine. Please do visit www.bonzer.org.au
“She was here a minute ago! Oh my God! Someone has taken my baby!”
I screamed and screamed until every one of my neighbours rushed out to see what was wrong. Beverley was two years old. She had been playing with her older sister and brother, as I watched them from the window, while I prepared lunch. Leaving for only a minute to go to the toilet, before going to call them. Now there was no sign of Beverley anywhere!
“She’s been kidnapped!” I screamed and sobbed uncontrollably. My son Steve and eldest daughter, Maureen, clung to me stunned and afraid. I managed to control myself a little and cuddled them to me.
“Maybe she’s indoors,” my friend offered, trying to sound hopeful. But the look in her eyes was as frightened as my own. Three of my friends, my children and I searched frantically, calling out as we did so.
”Beverley, Beverley. Where are you.” There was no reply and every room was searched.
“Did you see anyone stop in a car and take her away,” I asked the children. Both shook their heads and began to cry. By now the neighbours had phoned the police and within minutes there were many police cars pulling up outside my house.
Then came the questions and more questions. I knew the worst fear known to any parent. Someone had stolen my baby!
“Oh God No!” I sobbed in the policewoman’s arms. “Please God no,” I prayed.
Every word was sheer desperation, wringing every drop of blood from my heart. The police conducted their own search of my house and garden, neighbours were scouring the local area and had even taken their dogs with them. It was like the scene from a horror movie, but this was no movie. It was horrifically real and it was my baby that was missing!
In a haze of pain I heard the policewoman’s voice.
“I am sorry Violet, we have not found Beverley. More police are on their way. Do you have a recent photograph of her? It would help us.” I remember thinking how stupid she was. Recent! My God, she’s only two years old. Every photograph is recent. My eldest daughter handed the policewoman a picture of Beverley and left the room in tears. My son had left with his friends to help search for his sister.
My precious, beautiful baby was gone. I would never see her again. What terrible things were happening to her? . I collapsed in a heap onto the settee and sobbed. My thoughts were unbearable, as the pain washed over me like a tidal wave.
“Mummy.”
Oh God! Now I was hearing Beverley’s voice…
“Mummy.” Through my tear-filled eyes I could see Beverley, safe in her big sister’s arms.
“Wh . . . where?” I never waited for the answer, as I cuddled my daughter tightly and kissed her so many times I frightened her a little.
“I found her in my bed, Mum.” Maureen was smiling and crying at the same time.
“But everyone had searched the house so many times.” It was the policewoman who spoke first.
“Yes I know,” Maureen replied. “I just sat on my bed crying and sat on top of her. She had crawled under the covers, right to the bottom of the bed and fallen asleep.”
Even the police cheered when we walked out with Beverley in my arms. I was so relieved my baby daughter was safe. I can never forget the horror of that day and when I read of little children missing I relive it all. There is a happy ending to this little story. So many times there is a very different ending. I will be forever grateful my family was one of the lucky ones.
© Violet Apted
