"April"

The headline speaks for itself.....

This crime, along with the killing of Lee Rigby has struck a cord with me. I found myself emotionally drawn to these cases and this one in particular.

A fragile little girl went out to play and got snatched by a man who at his trial, when asked if he killed her replied 'probably'......??!!

I remember my childhood with great fondness. It was full of happy memories, the main one being playing outside in the long summer days! My grandparents looked after me and every day in the summer I'd be outside playing tennis, on our bikes, painting pictures, etc from first thing in the morning to last thing at night as the light was fading.

As I got older I was allowed to venture further from the house but I always had that feeling of freedom - being allowed to play outside with friends without the worry or concern that someone would be watching me or snatch me. Perhaps that's one of the advantages of being brought up in the country - a more relaxed way of life where such things are never a worry. Maybe a city childhood isn't as free or relaxed and has more restrictions. It's sad that her mother now feels that she will live with the guilt of letting April go out to play that evening....a parent should never have to feel like that!

But one thing is for sure, countryside or city, childhood is no longer innocent. There are people in today's society that want to steal that innocence away from children. I hope against hope that little April didn't suffer and that eventually her body will be found so that her family can try to find some sort of closure from this.

# April come she will - Simon & Garfunkel #