The Search Continues — With Buffaloes, Bladders, and a Boy I Might’ve Kidnapped

Another Sleepless Night and a Limping Dog

I actually managed yet again to get a few hours’ sleep on the sofa, surrounded by all the dogs apart from Peter. Peter was still guarding, and he appeared to be waiting for the return of George. Peter preferred to sleep outside just staring at the gate. This totally broke my heart, yet it gave me the comfort that if George did somehow make it back in the night, that Peter would immediately let me know.

It was now 5am, and I was just eager for the search to begin; however, the search wasn’t going to start for hours yet, and my mind was yet again racing. I did have the comfort of knowing, though, that today I didn’t have to meet TNT or prepare any orders, only reply to my emails. Sue was still sleeping, and while I knew that I should let her sleep, I couldn’t wait until she was up, so I made myself a cup of tea and slammed the odd cupboard door and hoped that the dogs would start barking. It worked. 6:30am, and there was Sue tee hee.

“Morning,” I said. “You OK?” asked Sue. “No,” I said, and then out came the sob, then came the boy hug between us both, and then Sue did the normal words of wisdom “Today is the day,” said Sue. Then came the brownie inside me; I never made it to girl guides, not sure as to why. “I am now going to pack a bag,” I said. Binoculars, maps, instructions of where they should look, a list of what I need people to do, a cover for when we find him, some water, and a pack of sausages.

We then spent time with the dogs, and it was at this point that Jeremy started to limp; he was really limping. “Oh my god, Sue, we need to go to the vets; look, Jeremy is limping.” Sue then took Jeremy and simply sat with him and massaged his leg; it was that simple as immediately Jeremy was brand new. I still don’t know if this was Sue’s clever healing powers or if Jeremy just needed some extra love.

The Call from La Trocha

Next, we went off into the campo to check all the dressing gown pieces, and on the way back, we received another call about a little black dog at La Trocha. Yes, we knew it was not George yet off we went, confirmed it wasn’t George yet while we were there and what with having all the posters in the car we popped into the Charity shop Chain which is located just inside the entrance of La Trocha. It’s amazing how kind people are while waiting at the counter; a lovely couple could see the desperation in my eyes. They asked what the matter was. Sue luckily took over, and this lovely couple agreed to help look for George.

We then popped home to gather our things, and then we headed off to the search meeting point.

On our way, Sue, still having control of my phone, she messaged Gerry, “Should we bring beers for the BBQ?” “Bring nothing, girls, as I have everything,” typed Gerry. Sue read out the message, and we both just went quiet in amazement; I mean, who is this man, and how can some person be just so amazing, supportive, and kind when we don’t even know him.

All Hands on Deck

Sue and I pulled over on the side of the road near the tent restaurant thing, and we saw that Gordon and Kermit were already there. I got out of the car, I gave them a map and the instruction list of their particular search area; I couldn’t even talk, I just sobbed and dribbled out the words thank you, they disappeared, and then the next car pulled up, then the next and the next and the next, it was so overwhelming that the tears and the snot were on overdrive. I knew I had to give a little talk. I am not sure if they all heard me yet I said, “Thank you all for coming; I don’t expect to find George alive, so please look everywhere even if you have to prod holes as we are now looking for a body.” I had at this point given up hope, yet I needed to still find his little body.

Thank goodness for Sue as she took everyone’s phone number; Sue isn’t that clever though as she didn’t take anyone’s name, she did, however, make a WhatsApp group with all the phone numbers, and it was called the find George group. So, every contact at least had a number instead of a name. Don’t worry, Gordon, if you are reading this, within the group, you were listed as Gordon, you were too Tracey and Carol and Linda and Kate tee hee yet all the others were called find George 1, find George 2 etc. (sorry).

Thankfully it was a beautiful day, and everyone set off in the areas that I had given them. Sue and I went straight back to the area where the lady had taken the photo. I was still fixated with that particular spot.

The Boy, the Buffaloes, and the Bush

Sue headed right, and I headed left. Basically, the whole area that I had given people to search was trespassing. Thankfully not one person cared.

I am embarrassed to say that when Sue went right and I went left that I wasn’t actually looking. I was so tired, so deflated, and I had given up, yet I knew I had to keep going as all these kind people hadn’t given up; they had hope. I had none. I think I was broken at this point and I just sat in the field all alone sobbing like some sort of out-of-control baby.

It was then that this couple with a very dapper-looking young boy appeared, Karen, Jon, and Vinnie (obviously, at the time, I had no clue as to who they were or their names). I don’t think that they saw yet I gave myself a quick slap and actually wiped my nose on my sleeve. I then pretended to be looking in my binoculars. Vinnie then started babbling on about the buffalo trails in the distance. I looked up at his mum and dad and asked, “Could I go with Vinnie please to check that area out?” “Yes, of course,” said Karen. So, we all parted, and off Vinnie and I went.

At this point, I was actually scared, buffalos’ holy shit, actual buffaloes; Vinnie said that all the trails within the bamboo ahead were definitely buffalo trails. It was such a massive area of complete 10 ft high bamboo with scary paths inside. “I am not going in,” I said to Vinnie. Vinnie then went on to explain how the trails are old as there is no fresh buffalo pooh in sight. Vinnie was around 10 years old, yet he spoke with such passion that I felt totally safe with him. Vinnie and I checked out all the trails as, yes, it was a possibility that George could be hiding in there. After an hour of whistling and endless attempts of looking inside every piece of bamboo, I knew that I couldn’t hold on much longer, my bladder was about to explode, and what with the current period situation that I was in and what with being this a 10-year-old boy I shouted: “Ahoy there,” was all I could say as I still at this point didn’t know his name.. “Quick where the hell is my car, quick can you see it, come on we need to pop to mine to let the dogs out.” “What car have you got?” shouted Vinnie. “A dirty old free lander,” I said.

“I can see it,” shouted Vinnie. Then off we ran.

Wee, Whispers, and WhatsApp

On this particular occasion, I didn’t break down sobbing as I was taking the longest wee in the world; all I could think was: holy shit, I wonder where Sue is. I couldn’t call her as she had my phone. Then I must admit I didn’t feel guilty as I was still enjoying the relief of my long wee knowing that Sue would have to go behind a bush. As I walked out of the bathroom, Vinnie was cuddling Jeremy; it was such a lovely sight; what with Jeremy being such a nervous boy, and then Vinnie said, “Could I please have a wee?” it was so funny poor young man was obviously busting as well.

Dogs all back inside, Vinnie and I went back to find Sue. When we eventually found Sue, I couldn’t help but ask if she needed a wee. I won’t tell you what she said.

Sue then read all the messages, and at this point, we decided to go to the area that Gerry was at as Gerry had messaged to say that he had lit the BBQ. It was on our journey in the car that I discovered Vinnie's name. “You in the back, what is your name and what is the number of your parents as we need to message them to tell them where you are,” I said. “Vinnie, like Vinnie Jones,” he said. I then looked at Sue and said, well, you have my phone. “What number are they in the find George group?” asked Sue. Then we all laughed and said, “Great, now we are in trouble as we have kidnapped a kid.”

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