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Mother frantic over missing child

Mother frantic over missing child

Dear Editor,
May I, through your inestimable auspices, propose a vote of thanks to the wonderful Tourist Police of Chiang Mai. Last week, my beloved daughter Tabatha, who is sixteen years of age and has Downes syndrome, disappeared. We were outside Central Department store when I was distracted by a beggar. I normally don’t encourage these people, but as the woman was a paraplegic amputee with two babies suckling her exposed breasts I considered it my Christian duty to make an exception and thus I gave her five baht for some food and a few tissues to help cover herself up. The next moment, I turned around and saw my Tabby disappearing into the distance in the back of a songtow, which incidentally was belching black smoke and should never have been allowed on the road in the first place. She must have got in the red bus thinking I would follow. She was waving and smiling to me with not a care in the world as she disappeared off around the Moat. I was absolutely frantic.
Well, to cut a long story short, because I know you must be short of space, although if you want my opinion half of what you print is absolute drivel and a waste of paper and ink, but that’s another matter; anyway, my precious Tabby disappeared into the bowels of Chiang Mai and was missing for three days. As you can imagine I was at my wits’ end with worry and if it wasn’t for the prayers and support of my church fellowship I think I would have gone to pieces. One of the mission sisters suggested that I contact the Tourist police because after two days with no sightings I feared the worst, namely that my lovely, innocent daughter had been sold into the sex trade. You might think that there would be no call for mentally challenged children in such places, but that’s where you would be wrong, the perverts who frequent these places have all manner of depraved tastes and children like Tabatha can be taken advantage of because they are naturally affectionate and trusting and what’s more they love dressing up. Tabby would think it was just a game like charades.
So I called the Tourist police and they were very helpful. I was escorted by Captain Lieutenant Colonel Pongpang Boonrungtop and together we scoured the fleshpots of the city. What I saw in those seedy and sordid establishments will stay with me for the rest of my days and I will probably need counselling to help me get over the ordeal, but I will spare your readers the despicable details as I know that this is a family newspaper and youngsters may be reading.
Well, imaging my despair when, after two nights of this turgid trawl through the darker side of Chiang Mai, it did not produce any trace of my Tabby. Then, picture my exhilaration and relief when on the third day Captain Pongpang called me to say Tabatha had been found selling shoes and serving up Pad Thai in Warorot market. Despite putting on a few pounds, she was none the worse for wear and had actually been very well looked after by the food stall family, so my thanks to them too.
I wouldn’t wish this ordeal on anyone, but praise the Lord for an answer to prayer and thanks to all those who showed concern for a desperate mother in need.
Yours in Faith,
Edna Gosling. (Mrs)

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