Chapter 25

Once Brandon, Kelly, and Sammy arrive at the fair, they take Sammy on all of the rides, visit the petting zoo, and even played some games where Brandon won both Kelly and Sammy stuffed animals.

Sammy is having so much fun that he tells both of his parents later in the afternoon, "I don't think I've had this much fun ever before in my life!"

Brandon asks, "You know what?"

"What?" Sammy responds.

"This is the most fun I've had in my life too because I'm having with my son. But you know what would make it better?"

"What?" Sammy asks again.

"Elephant ears!" Brandon responds.

"I want one too, can I have one too please daddy?" Sammy pleads.

"Alright, Kel, you want one too?" Brandon asks as he lets go of Sammy's hand.

"No thanks, I'll just have a bite of yours," Kelly says smiling, "Oh hey Sammy look there's a clown, do you want to watch? You might even get a balloon."

"Yeah," Sammy screams in delight as Brandon walks over to the vender trailer.

As Sammy is watching the clown, he notices one of the balloons floating away behind them. He goes to follow it because he wants to be able to return it to the clown so he might be able to get a balloon sword. He continues to follow the balloon floating through the air until he runs into a fence on the edge of the fair grounds, upset that he wasn't able to catch the balloon. As he turns around he finally notices that he doesn't see his mother, father, or the clown and he realizes that he doesn't know where he is.

Brandon returns with the elephant ears, walking up to Kelly's side, "Hey Sammy here's….," stops realizing that he doesn't see Sammy, "Kel where's Sammy?"

Kelly looks to her side, "Brandon, he's…." and finally realizes that Sammy isn't there, "Sammy? Sammy, where are you?" she starts to call her son as she is looking around the crowd of people starting to worry.

"Brandon, he was just here. He was standing right here," Kelly says as she points to the spot next to her."

"Ok, let's try to calm down. We will find him, okay Kel. You have your phone?" Brandon asks.

"Yeah, it's right here. Brandon, what if…" Kelly says trying to calm down and not to cry.

"Let's not finish that sentence, okay. Has he ever been lost before?" Brandon asks.

"No, not at all," Kelly says shaking her head.

"Do you have any pictures in your purse?" Brandon asks.

"Yeah, I have a couple," Kelly says as she goes to dig them out, "Here; this one is his most recent school photo. It was taken in April."

"Ok, let's split up just a little bit, looking around and asking people if they have seen him, but let's stay in sight of each other and call each other if we need to okay," Brandon says.

"Okay," Kelly nods.

"Kel, it'll be okay. He's a smart boy and you have raised him right. He'll know danger when he sees it and get away quickly," Brandon says trying to reassure her.

Sammy knows that he needs to stay away from danger and not talk to strangers so any person that begins to try to ask him if he is lost, he runs away before they can finish asking him if he's lost. After about 20 minutes of Sammy trying to avoid talking to people, he goes to sit underneath a tree that is kind of hidden behind a building at the petting zoo. He finally starts to cry just a little bit because he is really afraid that he will never see his parents ever again.

After Brandon and Kelly haven't had any luck for about 30 minutes, they make their way over to security tent make a report. Kelly is becoming more worried and angrier at herself that she is starting to take it out on anyone that she can.

After the police question them about Sammy and how long he has been missing, they tell them, "Alright, we will handle the search for your son now. If you folks could just stay here so we know where to find you once we find him."

"What do you mean stay here? My son is out there scared. I need to help find him," Kelly yells at the officer.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry but this is our policy, we need you to stay here," the officer tries again.

Brandon steps in front of Kelly taking hold of her, "Kel, this is their job, they know what to do," then turning his head towards the officer, "Thanks sir, I'll take care of her."

Kelly starts to try to loosen herself from Brandon's grip, "Kel, shh….it's be okay."

"How can you be so sure," Kelly yells again, this time with tears starting to flow out of her eyes, "it's my fault, Brandon, all of my fault. I wasn't holding his hand. His hand…I know that his hand always needs to be held," crying harder falling into Brandon's shoulder.

"Kelly, look at me….this isn't your fault, okay. He is growing up now and he shouldn't have to have his hand held all of the time, okay. Yes, he is still going to wander, but that is because children do that. There was a time when I was Sammy's age, my parents had taken Brenda and I to a baseball game and I wandered away from my parents because I thought I saw one of the players. It turned out to be just a very drunk person. But anyways, I was found, reunited back with my family, and we lived on. We will be able to do the same, okay," Brandon finishes still holding Kelly wiping away some of her tears.

Kelly nods her head, "yeah you're right, he'll be found and we will be able to live on." Kelly continues, "I remember our first year in college, Erin got lost at the park. An older lady kept watch of her until the police found her. It took hours waiting there with Jackie, Mel, and David. But they found her."

"I remember, and they will find Sammy too, okay. We just have to wait. There's a fence around the whole perimeter and they have his picture at every gate okay," Brandon says.

Meantime, an officer finally spots Sammy who is still underneath the same tree. As the officer approaches, Sammy has his head in-between his legs trying to hide his tears so know one would ask him why he is crying.

Sammy looks up when he hears his name, "Sammy Taylor?" being called by an officer, "hey my name is Shawn Albright and I'm a policeman, is your name Sammy Taylor?"

"Yeah," Sammy says in a quiet voice wiping away some of his tears.

Officer Shawn continues, "You're parents are really worried, their waiting at the security tent for you to be found."

"You know where my parents are?" Sammy asks with large eyes staring at the officer.

"Yeah, come on. I'll take you to them, okay. I promise," Shawn promises him.

Once Sammy and Officer Shawn arrive at the tent, Sammy immediately sees his parents and goes running towards them, "Mommy," he yells.

Both Kelly and Brandon look up and meet him halfway picking him up with Kelly holding him tightly to her body. "Sammy, thank God you are alright, I love you sweetie," Kelly whispers in his ear.

"I missed you, Mommy and Daddy, I was scared," Sammy says.

"I know, but you're alright," Kelly tells him still holding him tightly.

"We missed you to bud," Brandon says rubbing his back, "why don't we call this a day and return home."

"Yeah, that's a great idea. We'll pick up some dinner on the way, does that sound good Sammy?" Kelly asks.

"Yeah," Sammy responds.

"Okay good, let's go," Brandon says and then thanks the officers for their help and leads Kelly and Sammy back to the car.

On the way home they go through the Arby's drive thru ordering dinner. Once they get home to eat Kelly asks, "Sammy, would you like to watch a movie tonight?"

Sammy replies, "Can we watch Cars?"

"Definitely, why don't you get in your pajamas now so you don't have to later when you are half asleep, okay" Kelly responds as she puts the food on plates.

Once they got settled in the living room with their food, Sammy curled by next to Kelly to snuggle. Brandon and Kelly know they will need to talk to him about what happened at the fair, but they decide they should wait until the next day.

Therefore, after the movie was over Sammy was almost asleep still curled up on Kelly so she quietly asks Brandon, "Can you could carry him upstairs, please?"

"Sure thing," Brandon says as he goes to lift up Sammy.

Kelly gives Sammy a kiss and says, "Goodnight honey, I love you."

Half way up the stairs Sammy asks Brandon, "Daddy, can I sleep in the big bed with Mommy tonight?"

Brandon responds, "I'm sure your mom would enjoy that," without remember his conversation with Silver earlier.