Caught

"Why aren't you wearing shoes?"

Megan froze at the sound of the voice. She'd just been thinking about looking under the shelves for her shoes, if she had bent over the person behind her would have seen everything!

She turned, as slowly as possible to prevent her dress moving too much, and saw a small boy behind her, looking up at her confused. "Um... Hello," she replied a little awkwardly.

"Why aren't you wearing any shoes?" The boy repeated.

Megan's mind raced for a moment, before realising he was just a young kid, she didn't need a complicated excuse. "I just don't like wearing them," she told him anxiously looking around for a chance to escape.

"I don't like wearing shoes either," the boy admitted, "but my Mommy tells me I have to. She's here somewhere, but I can't find her."

"You can't find your Mom?" Megan asked a little nervously, torn between wanting to escape and now new fears about a missing child. "Do you know where she went?"

The boy shook his head. "No," he said slowly, a tear in his eye. "I can't find her." He then paused, before adding. "My mommy says I shouldn't talk to strangers, but I don't know where she is."

Megan struggled for what to say, but then the boy straightened slightly as if reciting a speech.

"My name is Bradley Danvers and my Mommy is Karen Dancers, can you help me find her?"