Hold your children a little closer

I come from a sleepy little town near a bigger town.

The bigger town has its share of problems - a lot of alcohol-fuelled shenanigans (considering a brand of the most aggresive of spirits is actually named after bigger town is not only a coincidence and due to manufacturer location) that falls WELL outside what I consider acceptable (and man, I feel closer and closer to my mother the more I moue the local news), the sort of violence that sends me straight into middle-age with my aghast attitude at "young (and actually, not so young) people today" and local magistrates who, if local newspapers are to be believed, have a mandate of keeping punishment levels as low as possible.

However, we were all shaken to the core by reports yesterday that an 8 year old girl was abducted from her bed while her family was sleeping on Sunday night.

Many prayers were said - but unfortunately by yesterday afternoon reports that her body had been found shattered everyone that I have seen.

My daughter, who was introduced to death too early when P. passed on has a huge fear of dying as it is. There are nights when she can't sleep because she worries about people dying.

Something like this happening so nearby and as yet with no explanation is just too shocking to try and comprehend or give any comprehension too.

So all we can do is hold her a little closer, explain that we will do all we can that it will never happen here and hope to goodness that society stops its madness soon.

We had to drive close to where it happened on our way to training yesterday. We saw the traffic jam as people had to slow to pass the scene. We saw police tape and cars. We saw a lot of news cameras and reporters.

My daughter turned to me and asked why the news never told us anything good. I know we have to know that this evil occurs, and to be wary - but she has a point.

There is no line to wrap up this blog. I am in shock. The community is in shock.