It's not very often that I go bush whacking at midnight, but when I do....
It was a dark and foggy night, the temperature was dropping as the moon hid behind the clouds. There was something out there in that fog. Something, someone, waiting. Waiting for you.
The town, normally quiet and sleepy, was alive. Dinners grew cold and bedtimes were forgotten as the residents left the comfort of their homes and converged upon the community centre. There the were met by the police and fire departments. The manhunt had begun.
Tonight, hundreds of folks showed up to search for a missing women. Sharon is one of the many town residents that are special. Sharon is developmentally handicapped and has dementia. Normally she navigates town on her own going between home, work, Tim Hortons, and the community centre with no problem, but she didn't make it home tonight.
She was found a fair ways off course, but in good health.
Petrolia is a small town with a big heart. There are several group homes for the handicapped folks. The town residents know most of the folks and they are well accepted in the community. Even in highschool, where kids can be horrible, every special person was well loved and included. Sharon was in high school when I was.
