Böcker av Nadine Jackson-Croker

Jessica had only recently come to England from the south of France where she had been living with her grandfather, Brigadier Sir Frank Jarvis, since November 1946, so that her mother, Marie Thérèse Craven could go out to work. Her daughter was more of an inconvenience to her than a beloved child. She was very aware of the strong bond that existed between Jessica and her father, the Brigadier, and was glad of it. It meant that the child could be left in his care and out of her way.

In the 1800s Mongoloid children were thought to be idiots. They were generally taken away at birth and put into institutions. They were neglected, sometimes starved and often died before the age of 20. Those who did live spent their whole lives and institutions. Since the mid-1970s these children are now called Down's Syndrome children.

James Newham sat gratefully down on a fallen tree trunk that flanked the side of the road where once had stood a dwelling of some sort. He was hot and tired and desperately sad. The Sri Lankan sun beat down upon his back. The warmth easing his aching bones.

Two years after the visit to the fire station, Craig had had a great day at school. He had come top in his tables test.. He had scored goal in their games lesson, and then his class teacher had given him a house point for picking up some litter without being told to, and putting it in the bin. He had gone happily to bed that night, feeling very pleased with himself. What woke him up, Craig could never work out; but something had. He sat up in bed and listened. Something wasn't right. He pushed back the bedclothes and sliding out of bed, walked over to the door and opened it. That was when he smelled it - smoke.

The end of the school year had come at last. The teachers, breathing a grateful sigh of thanks, had almost completed the tidying up, and were getting ready to the leave, having already dismissed their charges into the care of their loving parents. Only one child remained. A small sturdy little chap, with deep brown eyes, and sandy coloured hair stood, feet apart, head back as he regarded the tall man in front of him.

It is a well known fact that all of us have five senses. But you knew that. It is also well known that when a person loses one of their five senses, the other four senses become more pronounced. For example, a person who has lost their sight will have a more sensitive sense of touch, a stronger sense of smell, and a greater sense of taste or hearing. That is a very important fact that you need to remember as I tell you about my little friend Sarah Bennington, and her adventure.

The air hostess waited until all but one of the passengers had alighted from the Singapore flight to Heathrow. She looked down at the sad child sitting so quietly and patiently, waiting to know what was to happen next. The hostess sighed, and, bent gently toward the child, taking her hand, she helped her out of her seat and into a warm coat, despite the sunny late September weather outside.