We have to talk - prompt "Where does a child hide in a small town like this?"

Lucy fumbled her phone out of her pocket and was surprised to see Leroy’s name on the screen.

‘Lucy, can you hear me?’

‘Just about, where are you?’

‘I fell down a well, I can’t get out, can you come and help?’

Lucy couldn’t speak for laughing.

‘Ok I know it’s hilarious.’

‘I have three conditions.’

‘Three!’

‘I don’t have to help you. If you weren’t so damn stubborn…’

‘Ok what do you want?’

‘You need to talk to your dad, properly about all this, he’s running out of time.'

‘I know Maria has been nagging me.’

‘So…’

‘Ok, I know you’re both right. Next?’

‘All four of us need to sit down and sort out how this is going to work. Mario wants some kind of reassurance.’

‘And he asked you?’

‘I wasn’t avoiding things.’

‘Ok, Maria has been nagging about that too.’

‘Wise woman your sister.’

‘I suspect both of my sisters are wise. You said three.’

‘You’ll have to tell me where you are, this is a huge place and I’m only starting to find my way around.’

Leroy laughed.

‘So, your big brother is useful for something even down this well.’

‘Oh, I think my big brother knows his stuff. I’ll bring a rope ladder I saw one in a barn somewhere.’

‘I’ll text you my walking route.’

***

Lucy followed Leroy’s route on her phone.

The last time she had been alone in a place like this was a few years ago in Italy. When the locals heard a child was missing, they turned out in force.

They had a meeting to coordinate the search. The co-ordinator opened with the question ‘Where does a child hide in a small town like this?’ and everyone chipped in ideas.

It was Lucy that suggested the forest knowing how drawn to it she had been from a young age. It reminded her of the forest in her mother’s stories, it was likely where Giovanna got her inspiration.

She found the child unharmed and unaware of the panic she’d caused and taken her back to her grateful mother.

This was a bigger forest and a bigger human, neither of which she knew very well. At least this time the person had told her where they were although she suspected the family worry might be about the same level.