Robert's Mirror, Chapter 12, by J.M. Stevenson, www.jeannesbottle.com

Available light began to dwindle. Contrasting shadows from various flashlights became the norm as hundreds of volunteers hurried past. At one point I was very close to being stomped upon, but by some fluke I was missed by mere inches. The corn stalks surrounding me had been trampled over. There was plenty of human activity in the field and yet no one had located the girl that had wandered off looking for her brother Ree-ree.

A blanket of night covered the overhead sky making the search near impossible. A decision was made, a decision to put on hold the manhunt until the first light of day. I could hear whispers of doubt, as if a sudden undertow had stolen away all hope for the child surviving the ordeal alive.

The television camera's were the first to abandon the scene, followed by the special canine unit, and finally the large army of dedicated volunteers. The corn field became silent once again, crickets claiming their territory in the early August night.

Caitlin Ivanyo sat perched in the window and remained fixed even when everyone had gone home. She placed a candlestick in the window and drew a match to the wick. In the flicker of light her eyes appeared shadowed with an unbelievable sinking weight. The worry was unimaginable and yet there she was, clinging onto hope.

There was an older woman with her. Caitlin and the guest shared a similar facial structure and I believed her to be a relative of some sort. The two sat at the table and talked as both sets of eyes scanned the field. Over and over their gazes swept past, as if willing the tiny child to miraculously find her way home.

The moon was full as rays of light peered out from swift rolling patches of overcast. At times a beam would peek from behind the filter of clouds and the darkness seemed less frightening. I couldn't help but think of the child, the poor baby who just the night before, slept with a thumb in her mouth and a plug in turtle night light illuminating her bedroom. Was she out there somewhere terrified? Was she somehow warm enough? Was she crying for her mother?

Richie wandered out from the house and stood at the field peering out. He seemed broken, as if his youth had suddenly been stolen away. "I'm sorry Faith." He said beginning to sob.

"I shouldn't have left you with the bear!" "I SHOULDN'T HAVE LEFT YOU, OKAY? Please come home now... you're not that bad... I miss you...you'll always be my little drool monster."

Richie clicked on a flashlight and swept the beam throughout the corn. I could sense his misery at the nothingness, the stillness, the reality.

As if the light were rain, the spotlight sprayed onto the mirror. "Hey!" Richie said with excitement.

"MOM!" Richie screamed stooping down and clutching hold of the metallic square. At a frantic pace he sprinted with it (me) towards the house.

In an instant we somehow flew inside the back door and into the kitchen. Richie flung the mirror on the table and gazed at his mom with prospect.

"Look what I found!" Richie exclaimed.

"Faith was carrying it around, chewing on it...it was in the cornfield! WE know she's out there for certain! Let's go bring her home."

Caitlin gazed at the other woman, a spark of hope in her expression.

"I'll call the detective." Caitlin said hurrying to the phone.

Her voice was muffled from the other room, but the excitement of the Rich's discovery trickled through in the form of fragmented words.

"Good job Richie!" The older woman proclaimed.

"Are you going to help us grandma?" The boy wondered with sincerity.

"Yes. That's why I'm here."

The boy nodded, his gaze stopping on the bottle that his grandma clung to within her grip.

"You've been carrying that perfume around all day Gran. What's with that?"

The woman seemed embarrassed as she gazed down to the Avon container in her hand.

"I didn't want to say anything before, but there's a young girl in here." The old woman announced with a hint of puzzlement. "She appeared to me days ago and she's been a friend to me ever since. She tells me she helps kids and I believe she's here to help us."

I gazed at the bottle and noticed an amazing blue aura radiating from the glass.

"Hey?" I said speaking in a commanding voice.

"Hey yourself." The bottle responded.

"I've never had this happen before. Identify yourself, genie in the bottle." I said.

"Missy, Melissa Bland, youth division."

"Missy! It's me Robert your new team leader." I said with excitement.

"Why are we both here?" She asked.

"I'm unclear on that one... I was dropped in the corn field by the missing girl." I explained.

"I've been stuck with the grandmother who was determined not to get involved here." Missy remarked.

"Obviously we're here for different reasons." I said.

"Maybe different or possibly the same." Missy added.

The conversation between the grandmother and Richie faded back in. Grandma was holding the bottle to the light, pointing at the interior and describing what she was privy to inside.

"I don't see it Gran, I'm sorry." The boy said with disappointment.

The grandmother became doubtful and her expression hinted that she was now questioning her sanity. "Don't say anything about this to your mother." The old lady whispered. "She has enough to worry about without thinking I'm falling off the deep end."

The boy nodded in agreement as Caitlin entered the room.

"What did the police say?" Richie asked.

"The detective explained that tomorrow morning he's planning a different approach. His volunteers are going to surround the entire corn field... a seven mile perimeter and everyone will walk towards the center from the edges. He assured me that if Faith's out there, she'll be found."

Caitlin's eyes began to well up. "I hope she doesn't get too cold out there tonight. I hate to think how that tiny body could become chilled and frozen."

"Nonsense." The grandmother muttered. "It's at least seventy degrees. You have to trust that she'll be fine. We're fortunate that it's August and not October."
Just then, Pete entered the kitchen. He gazed about the room then spat, "I've been waiting for hours now Kate, when are ya gonna make dinner?"

Caitlin's face contorted furious. "I think it's time you pack your bags and find another place to live! My baby is out there for cryin' out loud and it's all your fault that she's lost. Instead of you sitting on your butt all afternoon, why and the heck didn't you go out and help find her?"

"My back was throbbin'. Ya know I can't do stuff like that!" Pete said with a lack of sincerity as his right hand began rubbing his lower back for emphasis.

"Take your injured back and all of your bologna...and hit the road."

"Ya need me Kate....ya do." The man argued observing Caitlin's outrage.

Pete gazed from Richie to Caitlin and to the grandmother, then stomped off. A few minutes later, he reappeared in the doorway, a satchel within his grip.

"I can see you're busy here. I'll be at my sister's if ya need me."

Caitlin eyed him with contempt.

"I'll be back next week fer the rest of my things." He said nodding as he edged his way back.

The front doors creaked as he passed through and the screen door thudded in several vibrating bounces.

"He's gone." The old woman said.

Caitlin nodded, her gaze trailing to the field once more. "I'll never make that mistake again." She whispered.

The grandmother stood and hurried to Caitlin, placing a wrinkled hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"Thanks for coming here today mom. I know it took a lot of pride swallowing for you to come. I just want you to know, I appreciate it."

"Nonsense." The grandmother said with embarrassment.

"I know I've done some things in my life that you haven't approved of..... I regret all of it, well, except for having my babies."

"This isn't the time Caitlin." The grandmother managed.

"No. I want to say this. My lifestyle has been rather wild, I'll admit that. Maybe I've hooked up with men that you wouldn't have chosen, maybe I've made some poor choices..... I'm willing to get my act together now. I've learned the hard way and with horrible consequences. Faith is out there somewhere and it's all my fault for leaving my precious child in the care of such an irresponsible looser."

"You can't help what's behind you Caitlin. This is partly my fault too. Had I not been so stubborn....heck, I should've been watching the kids so you could make a decent living, maybe you could've finished college. If I'd have been there for you...." Grandma began to cry now. "This is part my fault." She whispered breaking down into sobs.

"Oh my word." Richie said gazing at his mother and grandma. "Girls!" He said rolling his eyes.

Both women gazed at the boy then began to chuckle a bit. It was one of those moments that when we look back in future years, we realize that a glacier of emotional pain had finally thawed and melted away.

_______________

Grandma and Richie headed off to bed sometime around one in the morning. Caitlin never stepped away from her position at the window. Her gaze frantically swept the expanse of wind blown field. According to the weather report on the ten o'clock news, there was a thirty percent chance for rain.

Caitlin began to brew another pot of coffee as she gazed at the flashlight that Richie had left behind amongst the clutter on the kitchen countertop. Her attention shifted from the light to the darkness outside. I could imagine the turmoil from within her as she peered out into the night, the night that had enveloped her precious daughter.

"I don't care what the detective said. I'm going to look for her myself...enough of sitting around and waiting."

Caitlin filled a carafe, clicked the Playskool toy flashlight to be certain it was functional, then darted to the doorway of the room. She gazed back narrowing her eyes. Apparently, as a second thought she returned to blow out the candle that was positioned on the window's ledge. "Fire hazard." She whispered to herself.

As she slid around the table, her hand knocked my encasement, the mirror to the floor. She studied the flat reflection of herself as she slowly picked it up taking notice of her overwrought appearance.

"This is totally up to you." She declared with surprising strength.

"Hello!" I screamed, hoping to catch her attention, but Caitlin remained unaware of my presence.

"I'll find you baby Faith. It's time for bed and mommy is coming."

Caitlin shoved the mirror into the front pocket of a man's flannel shirt that she threw on as a light jacket overlay. The tip of mirror extended above, leaving me a decent view of the path ahead. Caitlin hurried along at a frantic pace stopping just inches before entering the field. She breathed the chilly air and it appeared as if she were taking a moment to collect her bearings.

Caitlin managed a few cautious steps and gazed about at the intimidating towers of vegetation reaching towards the blackened sky. The silence of night was interrupted with an occasional door slamming in the distance or the passing semi-truck accelerating along the entrance ramp to the nearby expressway.

"Faith!" Caitlin yelled now stomping at a quick pace into the thick of the field.

Every once in a while Caitlin would freeze as if trying to listen if her baby was crying out for her.

"Faith, it's time to come home now!"

Caitlin walked for hours through the night. The beam of flashlight began to dwindle away and suddenly Caitlin understood the fear her baby must be experiencing all alone in total darkness.
"I should've brought extra batteries." She noted to herself smacking the light to her opposite hand.

In the black of night, Caitlin began to walk in careful steps using the dim illumination the moon would grant at random overhead.

"Faith!" The mother screamed over and over again.

"Baby, where are you?"

Footsteps became audible from behind and a flashlight penetrated the field. The outline of a man fell into focus. He was wearing a bright yellow hard hat with a light attached at the top. There was a dog with him, a golden retriever on a leash.

"Hi." The man said in a reserved tone.

"Hello." Caitlin responded, shielding her eyes from the intense beam pelting her face.

"I'm out looking for the missing baby." The man explained.

"I'm Caitlin Ivanyo, the mother of the missing girl."

"Oh, I'm so sorry." The man responded, his voice relaying enormous compassion.

"I realized I'd never be able to sleep knowing that my child is out here somewhere needing me. I'm afraid the battery went out on this darned flashlight."

"Here." The man said handing Caitlin a portable flashlight from his tool belt. Caitlin clicked it on and the man's face flickered in a quick instant. The thing that struck me right off was the intense kindness reflected in his brown eyes. There was an aura surrounding him that led me to believe he was a good man.

"Rocky and I do this sort of thing, we work search and rescue. I saw the report on the channel 2 news in Chicago and thought we'd drive out to help. I checked in with the police and the chief said they were picking up the search in the morning. I have Faith's blanket that you gave to the police for the canine unit. I think Rocky had picked up her scent a few acres back. The thing of it is, with so many people about, the scents get mixed in and its harder for him to work. I believe our best bet at finding her is now before the search team returns."

"Oh, I'm so glad to hear you say that." Caitlin said with a sigh of relief.

"I don't believe I've introduced myself. I'm Neil Lewis." The man said falling silent.

The leash pulled tight and the dog began to bark with excitement.

"He's picked up on something again." Neil whispered, hunkering down to unclasp the leash.

"Find the baby!" Neil commanded with encouragement. The dog took off at a frantic pace, Rocky's sensitive nose sniffing the moist soil along the way. In a blink, the dog was beyond the beam of light and scurrying along at a fast run.

"Rocky is the best track dog I've ever had. He's come through when other dogs have failed. You'd be surprised at the miracles he's worked."

Neil and Caitlin took off in a sprint, trying to keep up with a dog hot on a scent that no human realized was present.

For most of the night, Caitlin, Neil and Rocky traipsed through the corn field rendering the same results as the searchers earlier, nothing.

Just before dawn, they decided to stop off at Caitlin's for a quick break. They realized time was running out, that in a matter of an hour or so, the field would become flooded with volunteers once again.

After a water break for Rocky and a coffee infusion for the humans, they were back on the mission before the first light of morning.

It was surprising how calming Neil was to Caitlin. He seemed to be a breath of fresh promise that the mother so desperately needed to breathe. The conversations as they searched tottered between his life as a search and rescue professional and hers as a person living with enormous regret. The endearing thing about Neil was how amazing he was in being supportive and non-judgmental. With every footstep, Caitlin unloaded her conscious, with every footstep, Neil understood.

A few miles down the field, Rocky stopped. He lifted his nose and swept his head from side to side. Neil squatted down and gazed at the dog. "What is it boy?" He asked the canine.

The dog collapsed to the ground and rolled over onto his back. Neil began to pet the dog's belly wondering what would cause such stubborn behavior during a rescue.

"This isn't the time for a belly rub Rocky." Neil said confused by the dog.

"I really wish that dog could see where my baby is and take us there." Caitlin announced.

In an instant I catapulted from the mirror and took hold of the dog's collar. The dog sensing I was taking control began to growl. "Rocky, knock it off!" I commanded as the dog rolled to an abrupt stance.

"We're going to find the baby and now!" I announced taking off in a run.

In a way similar to how the dog sniffed scents, I was able to view the field in numerous lights. Many colors crisscrossed in all directions. Hues of varying shades where hundreds of volunteers had wandered about were suddenly visible. I gazed at Faith's blanket within the clutches of Neil's hand. A very subtle green projected from the center. I noticed the exact color lining the ground in the distance along the row of corn. The pastel green crisscrossed through the furrow and into the next row.

"Come on Rocky." I said darting ahead leading the dog.

The dog did not appear happy that I was dragging him along in such a way and I left him no choice but to followed regardless.

Rocky began to bark as he smelled what I was seeing.

Rocky, Neil, Caitlin and I maneuvered at a swift pace, darting in the direction of the abandoned little league ball field. We reached a tall fence and Neil commanded the dog to turn around.

"There's no way she made it through there boy." Neil reasoned.

At that position, we had not reached the point where her color had passed through the fence. I continued to drag the dog along. In the brisk wind, leaves had covered the round break in the wire, a break too small for an adult to maneuver, but a gateway perfect for the size of a two year old.

Rocky began to bark, picking up the scent of the child from hours ago. I slid through the wire, pulling the dog through the opening.

"Would you look at that?" Caitlin said with excitement.

"She made it out of the corn field after all." Neil said with surprise.

I held Rocky until Caitlin and Neil scaled the fence.

We were running now, running in the direction of the baseball dugout.

The color was gaining in strength as if the intensity of hue was related to the freshness of her presence. Somehow I realized these were the last steps that Faith had taken the previous day.

Rocky began to bark and a tiny voice yelled, "Lowly!"

"FAITH!" Caitlin screamed with excitement as both Neil and she scanned the area with their portable lights.

The girl popped up from behind a dugout bench and into the beam.

"Mommy!" She screamed scampering towards her mother with a newspaper scrap clinging around her upper body.

The mother voicing relief, sprinted to her baby and enveloped her in a grateful embrace. The child was filthy, in desperate need of a diaper change, but after twenty hours of wandering through farm land was alive and well.

"Rocky you did it!" Neil said petting the dog. Rocky then gazed at me, sniffing the air as if warning me not to rat him out. He was a hero from past rescues and it was obvious he did not want his impressive role compromised.

"It's okay dog, they can't see me." I said sensing his concern.

Rocky as if understanding, swayed his head in a nod.

As Neil handed Caitlin the baby's blanket, the world surrounding me spun away. The child was found, I had granted the mother's wish and my mission in the human world was accomplished. Since all was fixed, it was time to teleport.

"Good job Rocky." I said as my vision of the old baseball field dissolved away.