the+story+of+undefined+awesomeness

Truth, Friendship, and Kidnapping By: Alyssa Horne

I was sitting on the porch, Emma had just left and she was walking down the street. Some guy was driving by; he had hair the color of dirt all scuffled about and skin so tan he must have gotten sunburn. He stopped, now talking to Emma. I ran as fast as I could but it was too late. She was already in the car and gone by the time I was even close.“Emma!” I yelled, as dust from the sleek black car puffed in my face. “She’s gone” I said, and started to cry. Emma is like a sister to me; she was with me in swimming lessons and when we tried out for the track team. We even got our first haircuts together. My sister is only 3 and Emma’s brother is 19. So we are always together playing at the park or just hanging’ out. Maybe that was her uncle, or maybe it was a stranger driving her to her doom. I am not going to let that happen now am I? She is my friend and I am **__not__** going to sit watching TV while she faces her death .I am going to find Emma even if I am bringing her dead body back I will not let my friend down. Running into my room I knew I was so going to get in trouble for this. I got my backpack out and grabbed my sleeping bag, flashlight, lots of food, water and my binoculars. I was ready for an adventure of a lifetime.

Now what am I suppose to do? In not sure that that was someone she knew or not so I will have to see if she comes to school tomorrow. I’ll call in the morning and if she is there I won’t worry about what happened .If she isn’t then I will go and find her and not stop until I do. Now I think I should get some shuteye…

“Devin-Marie Cronan” my mother said sweetly “wake up sweetie pie” ‘Mother!” I said pulling the covers down from over my face. “No one has called me Devin-Marie for nearly a decade” Well the decade has ended, now get out of bed.” “Whatever” said I as I was getting out of bed “Oh, and can you watch your sister for the day I have to go to work, there was a big problem with the paperwork.” I totally forgot. It was Saturday.

As, I arrived at school Monday morning I knew Emma wasn’t there even before I got there. She waits by the corner for me every day and she wasn’t there. As I went into my (and Emma’s) English class I thought I would scream. Emma is absent. I knew it, I knew it, and I knew it!!! When I left to eat lunch down by the dock I decided just to hide in the tree house till after school, then I would go to the police station check to make sure she is really missing and head off on my adventure.

I thought the police station was always crowded, but there was hardly anyone there when I came in. there was only a lady I identified as Mrs. Walsh. “Hi Mrs. Walsh” I said as I came up to the counter. “What can I do for you today Miss. Cronan.” “Well, I was just wondering if you had gotten any missing child reports in the last few days.” I said. “Oh” she said, shuffling through some papers. “There was one person, her name is Emma Rose Collins.” There was a pause “All we know is that there are a few places she can be. Here in Houston, Japan, or Alaska.” “Have they checked out any of the sites?” “Police are checking Houston, and her parents are on their way to Japan.” “Okay” I slowly started walking away “But there still is hope. Emma has only been gone 3 days; she should turn up in about a week. They all do.” “Who’s ‘they’?” I asked Oh” she said with a sigh “a lot of the girls missing turn up in about a week…” then she got real quiet. In a really soft whisper she said “except crystal” she was trailing of deep in her thoughts “Except who?” “No one. Now go home kid I have work to do!” I decided to occupy myself with the broachers. I thought Mrs. Walsh looked suspicious and I wouldn’t want to miss out on hearing something important. Right then a police officer came in the building, others soon followed.

“The new files are being placed where the real ones were.” Mrs. Walsh said in a hushed tone. “Where are all the real ones then?” the policeman asked “In a garbage bag, with all case files and everything we have on her and everyone else” said she “it has no markings whatsoever. We won’t get in trouble at all.” “You really think well get away with it – hey you!” He saw me right then and was walking towards me. “What are you doing here, you’re suppose to be in school.” “Well,” I started “ we have a half day today so I came here and now I’m looking at these broachers.” “Get lost!” “But I really have to go to the bathroom!” I lied. “Down the hall and to your left sweetie” Mrs. Walsh said. Once I was at the bathroom door I could see in the corner of my eye they were both leaving.

As soon as I knew they were gone I started for the back of the building and there it was, unmarked and plain sight.

“ So why did you want me to come out here. Its way past my curfew” Riley said. “Emma-Rose.” I said, while organizing the papers. “And” she spat back at me. “Got kidnapped…3 days ago” “Oh. My. Gosh!!!! “Mrs. Walsh and a police man are my only suspects.” “But they’re so nice.” “Yeah right” “But-” She had just gotten her binoculars out and was looking out the window. I did the same thing as soon as I noticed what was going on. Mrs. Walsh looked both ways before crossing the street. Then I saw her climb up the tree house across the way. I ducked so she couldn’t see us and motioned for Riley to do the same. I started taking the neat stacks of paper and putting them in my bag. “We have to be ready” I whispered, “what if she wants to come up here next” We were ready to run, and as soon as Mrs. Walsh got in her car and started driving away we ran to the other tree house. It was much bigger. The tree house rested among 4 trees positioned close together. There were 2 bedrooms with an old mattress in each, a small closet, and a play area with one of those Elmo couches that unfold outwards. “How about we stay here for the night?” Riley said, yawning. “Okay” I said, “it’ll give us time to think” We both took a different bedroom and went off to sleep.

The next morning I went to the closet, got my bag, and sat down on one of those Elmo couches. As I was opening my bag I noticed something in the back of my head telling me this was the worst and best thing I did in my whole entire life, I really didn’t know why. Looking through the papers I knew why I told myself that. I was in for a week all right.


 * Name: **Crystal Grace Cronan** ||
 * Date Missing: **Friday January 12 2000** ||
 * Age: **12** ||
 * Date Of Birth: **January 2ed 1988** ||
 * Height: **5' 2"** ||
 * Weight: **86 lbs (at twelve)** ||
 * Parents: **Elizabeth Brianne Cronan, Matthew Jonathan John Cronan** ||
 * Police Officer: **Robert Johnson** ||
 * Signature: Robert Johnson ||
 * Weight: **86 lbs (at twelve)** ||
 * Parents: **Elizabeth Brianne Cronan, Matthew Jonathan John Cronan** ||
 * Police Officer: **Robert Johnson** ||
 * Signature: Robert Johnson ||
 * Police Officer: **Robert Johnson** ||
 * Signature: Robert Johnson ||
 * Signature: Robert Johnson ||
 * Signature: Robert Johnson ||

“Riley!” I said as loudly as I could without screaming. “What?” said an irritated Riley “I have a sister,” I said still in shock. “I know she’s 2 years old now-” “No, I mean I have another sister. She’s 19 years old and her name is Crystal. I have to find her. She needs me. Emma needs me. We have to find them Ri, we just have to.” “Well then, we will find them, okay.” “Lets look through these papers,” said I. I felt more determined then ever. “Girl,” Riley started “ we’re going to Alaska!” “What?” “That’s where Emma & Crystal are headed” “And how do you know that?” “Here’s their confirmation for the tickets” “Lets go then. We don’t want to miss the flight,” said she. “How are we going to get on the flight?” “Here are 2 boarding passes. This is probably what Mrs. Walsh came for yesterday.” I said. “Come on dev!” Riley said tossing me my bag. Off we went.

“Hi Mr. Gibson” I said as we walked on to the bus. “Where are you headed?” he asked. “The airport please” Riley said. “Okay ladies” we then sat down and waited until our stop.

“Next stop: Honolulu National Airport” Mr. Gibson said over the loudspeaker. “Um, Mr. Gibson” Riley said. “Will you take us to the American Airlines entrance please” “Sure” he said. When she came back to get her bag I noticed something. Mrs. Walsh was three cars behind us. I showed Riley. She looked scared. About 20 minutes after we got into the airport we were ready to board the plane. “All first class, please get ready to board” the lady over the loudspeaker said. We were third class. This was going to be a long day. “Third class may board now.” That was 25 minutes later. We were directed to our seats that were right in the front. The seats were a horrid awful color and were so uncomfortable.

When we got off the plane we followed Mrs. Walsh and the group of kids she had with her. They didn’t even notice us one bit. We followed them until we passed by an old business building. The people inside told us we could stay on the top floor. From there we watched Mrs. Walsh go up the hill and into a cave, leaving the kids inside. We watched that cave for 3 days and no one came in or out. So at midnight we went out to the cave. It was a steep hill to climb and when we got up to the top there was light from inside the cave. We followed the light, hoping to find our friends. Then we saw 2 jails like cells formed from the sides of the cave. Emma was in one of them, pacing back and forth. In the other there was a girl sitting quietly in the corner, looking quite sick. There was a key on the ground which Riley ran to and opened Emma’s cell. “Oh my gosh” Emma nearly screamed. “How did you find me here?” “We will answer that later but right now we need to know who is in the other cell.” “Oh, that’s Crystal. She’s very sick.” Emma said as she opened the door to Crystal’s cell. “We need to get her to a hospital.” “Well let’s get a move on, we don’t want her dieing now do we?” I was getting scared now. I didn’t want my sister to die!

The doctor told us Crystal needed surgery and that we didn’t have to pay because of what kind of situation we are in. I was thankful for that. We are playing cards now. That is me, Emma, Riley and Ellen (the lady at the front desk). It as been an hour and there are nearly 5 more hours to go. Ellen just won the game of cards. “Would you three like a snack?” Ellen asked. “Sure” Emma said, “I am really hungry.” So we got our snack, and now don’t have any empty stomachs. After that we headed for the church. Emma brought up the fact that we should pray for Crystal & that we get home safely. After all we are a long way from home.

“Ladies” the doctor said softly. “I’m glad to say the surgery went well, but Crystal may only be with us for a couple of days. You can go and see her now.”

“Crystal?” I said cautiously “are you awake?” “Over here” she said. “Hey” I said, “my name is Devin.” “Devin. As in Devin-Marie Cronan?” “How’d you know?” “You always had mom’s eyes.” I laughed quietly. Everyone said that about me. “Well, at least I get to meet my sister.” I said sitting down in a chair nearby. “Yeah, I thought I’d never see you again.” “What’s up” said Emma walking in the room, Riley following close behind. “I feel a little numb and I have a headache but otherwise I’m good as gold,” said Crystal her words slurring and slowing. A nurse came in and told us to say goodbye. Riley and Emma hugged crystal so hard I thought she would have burst. They then left the room. I went up to her and held her hand gently. She knew as well as I did. “Tell mom & dad that…”Crystal took a deep breath.” That I love them lots. And please, oh please will you give them this.” she gave me some crumpled up pieces of paper. “And also tell them that I will be waiting.” There was a beep, a long beep. I hugged her lifeless body so hard and started crying. Riley and Emma came in and started crying, too. All three of us hugging Crystal’s body, the beeping sound filled the room. We stayed there by Crystal hugging her and crying, endlessly. Time stopped for the three of us and out of all the doctors and nurses moving quickly around us, we knew she was in each of us. I knew she was waiting. Sitting and waiting. We all understood her time had come.

__Epilogue__
As Riley, Emma and I sit on the edge of the dock in our little Hawaiian island we know that there are really four people sitting there. And as we tell countless stories, we also tell this one that I am telling you now. Even though it may be sad, we still remember her. And we will always be waiting.

This story is dedicated to all the lost children in the world and all the kidnapped. They deserve to have a friend.