Finding Charlie Rose

It was December 1st and Sally was putting up Christmas decorations around the home that she and Charlie Rose shared. Charlie had just turned 3 years old at the start of November and was a funny, sweet, innocent ray of sunshine. She had an infectious laugh and loved Christmas with all the lights and the Christmas carols. She would dance around watching the twinkling lights smiling and laughing. She had caramel-coloured hair and a baby face with big blue eyes. She was small for her age but was very bright. She knew her name and the street she lived on. She also knew how to use the phone to call for help because Sally taught her the minute she could talk just in case Jackson had ever turned up.

Charlie was sleeping on the lounge, she still had naps during the day because she never slept well at night unless she was sleeping with Sally. It had always been the same and Sally didn't mind at all. Charlie Rose was her world. Charlie was cuddling her glow worm which she used to get to sleep and carried with her everywhere. Sally had to have spares just in case one broke. The glow worm lit up and played music which helped to get Charlie to sleep and sometimes Sally would put a drop of lavender oil on the worm to coax Charlie to sleep as well.

Sally had left her husband and sons 4 years ago and went underground into a women's refuge. There she was moved out of the city and sent to live in a small town on the NSW border. She knew no one there but she didn't care. She just didn't want to be found by her husband. She lived in a halfway house for 8 months until she was able to find a little two-bedroom cottage. The social worker had helped her furnish the place with donations from charity. Sally never complained at all, she was the happiest she had been in years. She was not scared of being hurt during her pregnancy because no one but she knew. She had not told the housekeeper nor had she told her sons she suspected she was pregnant hoping no one would come looking for her.

When she birthed her baby at the hospital alone she didn't have to worry about having another son. She had picked his name and it was going to be Charlie. She had missed many appointments during the pregnancy as she had to remain off the radar and keep a low profile so she never found out the gender. When she had birthed a baby girl she was shocked and yet ecstatic at the same time. She had a beautiful baby girl who would grow up loved and safe. She would never have to witness the abuse of her mother and she would get to be a normal kid. She still loved the name Charlie so she called her daughter Charlie and Rose for a middle name because Sally's mum had always said roses are special. Little Charlie was special and the name Rose was a perfect fit.

Charlie Rose was born November 5th weighing 6 pounds 3. She was on the smaller side but she was perfect in Sally's eyes. Charlie grew up knowing she was so very loved by her mother and she knew she was wanted. Sally had promised that Charlie would always feel wanted and would never know how she was conceived. To her, that wasn't important anymore. It was in the past and it would stay there.

Sally would tell Charlie stories and take her on walks. They would play in the garden planting flowers and making mud pies. They would bake cookies and cakes together and also have tea parties. Charlie was Sally's best friend. Sally had never used baby talk with Charlie and therefore Charlie spoke well for her age. Charlie had also been early to talk saying her first word which was duck at 9 months old. She walked at 10 months for the first time and Sally had caught it on her phone. Charlie also was fully toilet trained at 18 months old hating the feel of a wet nappy.

Charlie was woken from her nap by a loud bang startling her from her sleep. She got off the lounge and went to find her mummy so she could ask her about the noise. Charlie found her mum near the front door lying on her side next to the ladder with red stuff coming out of her head. Charlie tried to wake her mummy up but she wouldn't wake up. Charlie walked over to the phone picking it up and pressing 000 just like her mummy had taught her.

The phone rang and someone answered "Police fire or ambulance" the man said. "Mummy won't wake up," Charlie told the man. "Do you need police, fire or ambulance" the person repeated. Charlie knew she had to speak louder into the phone so she used her big girl voice and said: "Mummy won't wake up. There is red stuff coming from her head".

"Ok, sweety how old are you?" The man asked. "I Charlie and I 3" Charlie replied. "Such a big girl now. Charlie, is there anyone else there besides your mummy?" The man asked. Charlie shook her head no. "Charlie, are you there sweetheart? You need to keep talking to me ok?" The man asked her. "I here" Charlie replied. "Ok Charlie is someone else there with you besides mummy?" the man asked again. "No. I scared mummy not wake up. Mummy said press 000 for help. Please help my mummy" Charlie said.

"We are getting mummy help, Charlie. You are such a brave girl, mummy would be so proud of you. Do you know where you live Charlie?" The man asked. "I live Lizbeth Drive" Charlie replied. "You mean Elizabeth drive?" The man asked "Yeh Lizbeth drive. I live with mummy. Just Charlie and mummy" Charlie replied. "OK, sweetheart. We have someone coming to help mummy. Can you tell me where mummy is now?" The man asked. "Mummy near the ladder at the door. Charlie sleeping and then loud bang. I scared so went to get mummy. Mummy didn't wake up" Charlie said before starting to cry. She was scared and just wanted her mummy to wake up and let her know everything was ok.

Charlie heard lots of loud noise and went to grab her worm for comfort. She never really liked loud noises. Charlie stood in the lounge room and people tried to get in the front door. People were calling her name but she was scared. Charlie used the blanket and put it over her head gripping her worm firmly.