Page 13 - CAS- Book 1 - Autumn, Winter

Fingers

Brian Lo
It was supposed to be a simple birthday party. Just a simple get‐together for
my daughter’s classmate, Clara Smith, to celebrate her fourth birthday with
her friends. And yet no one knew how the birthday girl, Clara, had been van‐
ished from beneath the watchful eyes of her parents, friends and neighbors.

Either way, the police were informed, and soon Clara’s disappearance was
the talk of the town. It was a sad day for the Smiths. Of course, everyone
came and has ly took their children home, ushering them to the cars with
apologe c faces and with half‐hearted excuses. My daughter Lindsey was
hesitant to leave.

As we arrived home, everyone went straight to their own business. I went to
the couch to watch the news, my wife went to shower and Lindsey went to
her room. I fell asleep watching the news.

In the middle of the night, Lindsey woke me up, tugging on my shirt sleeve.

“Daddy?”

I turned to her, eyes s ll blurry from the nap. “What is it swee e?”

She looked at me, smiling eerily. “Guess how old I’ll be in a month.”

I fumbled with my glasses, blinking away the dregs of sleep.

She had held up four fingers.

It’s day me now, but she s ll won’t tell me where she got them.

xiii