A library assistant finds herself dealing with a tense situation when she spots a suspected child molester not far from the children's section of her library. She gets some help from an unusual source.
Alice Campbell tried to avoid looking
at the TV screen that Friday evening,
a sharp sense of dread engulfing her as her husband watched his reality crime program.
"Tonight, we are issuing an 'All Points Bulletin' for this suspect in an attempted kidnapping," the sober host intoned."Later, we will have some
safety tips to protect your children. 'Stanger Danger' coming up next!"
The program jogged her memories of that day's in-service about missing children and library safety.
This was now being driven home on television, but Alice still squirmed, shuddering at the possiblity that someone could do this, and even more so at the possibility that it could happen while she was working at the library.
The description of the wanted man stared back blankly from the screen, its short hair, sad eyes and slight mustache suggesting a lonely middle-aged man than a silent monster.
Even worse, there had been an incident at the McClure Library, not far from the Alexandrian, where Alice worked.
The unease continued the next day, as she drove her son Toby to the library for story and craft time.
"Now remember, go to the children's section and stay there," Alice said.
"Yes, mommy." the tow-headed seven-year-old answered.
"Do what Miss Joberta says and be nice to the other boys and girls."
"Yes, mommy,"
"After story time, stay in the children's section until daddy comes to pick you up and if anyone you don't know tries to talk to you, don't talk to them and tell Miss Joberta."
"Yes mommy."
The anxiety continued as Alice went about her work of replacing the general interest magazines. She nervously glanced at the children's area while placing the new periodicals in their plastic covers.
"Oh," Alice said to herself when she saw the face glaring back at her from the new copy of the Saturday Evening Post. "You again."
A picture of Richard Walker, host of "All Points Bulletin" glowered back at her from the magazine.
She began to mimic the program's opening with mock seriousness.
"Tonight, we are issuing an 'All Points Bulletin' for a vicious criminal who has kept out 12 overdue library books,"
she said. "I wish you were here. Then I wouldn't be so worried about someone who's a million miles away."
"What makes you so sure he's a million miles away?" a sober voice asked.
Startled, Alice turned to find herself looking at the face of Richard Walker standing next to the magazine rack.
"I beg your pardon," she said.
"That man on last night's program.The suspect in the attempted child abduction. He might be in this area. In fact, he tried to take a little boy about a week ago at the McClure Library."
Alice's face turned white as she realized her worst fears had become real.
A terrifying thought shot through her mind.
What about Toby?
What about the other children at the story hour?
Would he entice one of them?
Would they be safe?
"Don't be alarmed," Walker said. "Call the police or have someone else do it."
"What? Tell somone that there's a criminal in the library because some magazine cover said so? Is that it?"
Alice's voice dropped sharply as she turned to see that Walker had gone, but so too had the copy of his magazine cover.
She gave another glance to the children's section. Seeing only a group of laughing, engaged little faces under the careful direction of Miss Joberta, she then directed her gaze to the area right near the children's wing, where the business periodicals were kept.
There he was, a sad-looking man with short black hair and a slight mustache.
Alice gulped and headed for the reference desk, looking up to see the clock.
Story hour was just ending and the parents were arriving to pick up their children. Toby sat quietly at a table waiting for his father to pick him up.
Alice smiled nervously at him as she went to the check-out desk.
"Joberta" she whispered. "There's a man in the hallway we should keep an eye on. I think he's..."
Just then another little boy came up to the desk.
"Miss Joberta, that man tried to talk to me and some ot the other kids," he said. "I've seen him before and I don't like him. A man on TV said he may have done something bad."
Joberta quietly called for a security guard and the other boy pointed him out. Then, she called the police.
Soon, the guard lured the man out of the bidling, where he was arrested.
As Toby excitedly recounted the episode to his father when Mr. Campbell arrived during the commotion, Alice gave her story to the police.
So did the little boy, who kept talking about this "TV guy" who was not far from the other man.
"When he was asking me all these things, I looked over and that TV guy, kept shaking his head no." the boy said. "When he tried to talk to the other kids, I told them not to talk to him."
At the end of the day, Alice took one last look at the hallway and saw what looked like a notebook lying on the floor.
"Somebody must have dropped a book bag," she thought to herself. "Have to take it to the lost and found."
She walked over, bent down and picked up the new copy of the Satruday Evening Post, with Richard Walker glowering back at her.
Right where the little boy said he was.
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Reviewed by Tracey L. O' Very
10/9/2005
Wonderful Awakening story Very good !! This is how quickly it can happen and it is such a scarey world I love this and I hope that you get this out to remind all how quickly danger and sickening individuals strikes.
Thank You Steve for your caring heart and this wonderful story.
Tracey xoox(c :)42
Is Justice Finally Overcoming the Ford Valley Corruption?
Judge Sherman Ford, the patriarch of the Ford family is continuing to control and corrupt Ford County. The newly elected sheriff, Todd Mercer, and friends are slowly taking control
Is Justice Finally Overcoming the Ford Valley Corruption?
Judge Sherman Ford, the patriarch of the Ford family is continuing to control and corrupt Ford County. The newly elected sheriff, Todd Mercer, and friends are slowly taking control
