Inspector Cutler... 

Finds — Mr Noggs. 

Chapter 1

Mr Hoggs.

He wore a checked shirt (more blue squares than green, with the occasional brown square ... where there was no blue,) an old green coat with worn leather buttons, a neckerchief of broad red and yellow stripes (nothing did match in his selection of clothing today,) and well worn brown trousers (with a patch to the knee of his left leg,) he carried a long stick (only ever so bent,) he used this as a walking-stick, or just something to clear a path from time to time.

I have a fine image of this man — on paper and in mind ... yet a finer image of his daughter.         I can see her radiating forth (in shop windows,) with all her beauty as she embraces my hand in pleasure, while walking out, in her finest of summer dresses.        She is a women with a pretty (although such a word is not enough to describe a women's nose,) the most exquisite nose — more striking (if only slightly turned-up nose ... could be, or should be, found on a face of any description.        Her  large mouth (more fitting on her, than her father, she inherited,) does benefit her splendidly.        In contrast ... her face is little less rounded, and a little longer, and with two not so large — however so slightly lighter, Colbert blue eyes.

Chapter 2

We return home.

We stood as close (as customs of the day, and society — feels comfortable with,) on one of those last summers days, when she had spent — together picnicking; by the stream that runs gently through the park ... that she and her mother favoured; and where she and her mother (before her death,) spent many happy times.           It was her wish to return home; maybe (allowing me into her thoughts,) her father had returned there, and was now distressed in his own mind for she was not waiting (as she did,) be waiting for him.          When arriving at the house — just as she had left it.                He was not.

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Let the records show.          Mr Snuffim, wearing a well tailored suit — of a previous owner; worn with grey knee high boots and in hand a cap of cloth ... informed — that he had spoken to Mr Hoggs - early the morning of that Monday.        When questioned further Mr Snuffim told all he watched Mr Hoggs boarded the train~the train heading north.       He had with him a tall, thin young boy — of no more than seven years, and one suitcase ... brown in colour.        They had not spoken, so no more information was provided by Mr Snuffim.        It was confirm such a trip was taken by Mr Hoggs and a tall, thin young boy, that day. 

 Chapter 3

The ticket was to Graymarsh.

Travelling by train — any tall, thin young boy, could not help but to enjoy ... a window seat, open at that — even better.         Jack (we will call this tall, thin young boy, by that name;) had never been on such an exciting trip; on any day of his eight years (we will give Jack, this tall and thin young boy — tall  for his age, an age of eight.)         When stood aside, his head almost to the shoulders of Mr Hoggs.       If together when first sighted in good light, the viewer could be well assured — they were father and son — for there were many similar features.        

As the inquisitive and the young so do ... all about one, everything is closely studied ... the number of lamp-posts, the number of buildings, the number of signs, the different types of flags ... be they red or green.         

No sooner had the two purchased their tickets, boarded the train (the third carriage was chosen,) had found suitable seats ... Jack, by the open window ... a high pitched whistle pierced through  thoughts — followed with a horn and white smoke steaming from the fired up engine, Jack found himself engulfed  in clouds of steam.          I'm sure Mr Hoggs, Jack's father, or not — would have suggested that the window should have been closed at this point of time ... and I'm sure Mr Hoggs, Jack's father, or not — would have laughed at the sight (a black and white sooty face,) of a young tall, thin young boy of eight.       

A distance travelled in a horse drawn coach, taking many days (and many nights,) confined in a small space ... next to fellow travellers; some, you would, on any other day cross the road to avoid — you could ask yourself why not take the train ... by taking the train that same distance travelled would be completed in hours, and if sleep was required; you would not require a night to accomplish the need.            Having said this ... such a trip in a horse drawn coach — be it the first (or second, or third time or .... time, such a journey for a young tall, thin boy would be all such a boy would wish to experience.         

Chapter 4

A brother and a stepmother for Kate.

Nothing on this occasion, as with the many other occasions, when this trip was taken by Mr Hoggs Jack ... did any experience linger longer in either's mind than the time it took to arrive.                  But   let it be noted; the return train on this occasion was  not at the station — where Mr Hoggs and Jack stood waiting.

If you have kept notes as I have ... you will recall Kate came to report the disappearance of her father.         Her father who was never late in returning from his employment (as she had thought at that time,) for he knew she would be waiting for him (alone,) as she had done since her mother was taken ill and past on just six months before — and her memories spent together picnicking by the stream — that runs gently through the park they favoured; and where she and her mother (before her death,) spent time.             Now

Kate is to learn the other side of love between her father and mother .... you ask to yourself, did their love cease just six months before?          How could that be the case, for we have just read her father and a boy of eight have taken on many regular occasions (in fact we should make the word — occasions — redundant,) un-known to Kate and her mother ... this pilgrimage — not for employment but to another life and love and family.          Again we have more questions than answers; why on this occasion (O! That word again,) why did Mr Hoggs have Jack in his care that day leaving — to return to Graymarsh (my notes record as the home of his second family,) why had he brought Jack to (?) as we know the home of Kate and her mother (the home of his first family.)        You were to ask a neighbour, one with many years spent on this earth; he or she ... she I'm sure will look upon his reasons as sinister; reading more into his motives than he had placed before her to see~seeing only injury, and hurtful wrongs ... afflicted on a sick women and a mother.

He thinking the man who has ploughed years of his energy into work and family ... reaping little reward for his time and effort, working for owner and master of many acres, only to return home to one he loves less each day .... and then on a bright and sunny day spent in enriching his tired mind — reached by a train journey, finds a women free from any responsibilities - younger than the mother of his child — with time to shower love on him as a man, to love the way he see his world ... to pander kisses, covering his aching bones in herbal scents, listening to his words of complaints, never questioning his motive to travel this distance on a regular bases.           Let the record show.      This new world of Mr Hoggs began fourteen years from (after,) the birth of Kate and nine years prior (before,) the birth of Jack.

All that now said and recorded.         Let us return to why the young lady I meet — that day after reporting her father missing ... he having not returned home as was his custom to do so at the time most likely to arrive home.           A feeling of warmth between us has blossomed, for my part -  I did delay my efforts towards the location of him ... but as a respected notoriety of the police force; did place a notice for the discovery of his whereabouts. 

Chapter 5

The Reunion.

When one has lost a mother (one so young as eight-teen,) and then un-known to that person, a father ... who has all the love and respect of that one person; finds that father has a need to love others and he has a son and now his daughter has a brother~a brother this one of eight-teen could have loved ... for all those years, passed without knowledge.

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Time it is said — is a great healer and can provide relief to all that from time to time have and do wish — that time would travel faster ...  an egg timer carries sufficient sand to boil an egg, but will not measure the passing of six months .... a spring wound (tight,) taught, will not bring-forward the arrival of midday, nor pacing to and fro; with thoughts of regret, quicken departure.         Torn is an average man of the land — found wanting in spiritual and business beliefs; ageing in years with dreams of achievements and desires of grandeur ... is this our Mr Hoggs who now has to return to a singular world. 

 To recap.         Recorded on file, and fresh in my mind.            Kate Hoggs; returns  home to find her father absent ... something that was an unusual occurrence.        This, did that day stirred his daughter to report his disappearance.         Time (that,) few can control — brought the young eighteen year old women into my domain ... reasons as to how our stars crossed are thin and far between and when given thought — make little understanding.           (Her father,) Mr Hoggs  loved two women, in the short time on earth (as life was short — in these times,) worked all the hours provided to him by his employer and his faith in his God - providing for two families of similar pre-portions and demands upon him.              Only within the time for an egg to be boiled, and for the hands on a clock to move seconds .... Mr Hoggs is struck twice by a hammer of bad luck .... or is it his lord, punishing this man of the land, a simple man of this world, who loved two women within the short period of time (for time travels faster — when not watching hands move, or the sun pass~passing the moon and stars of greed and desire for flesh.)                        Let the record show.         Both women left Mr Hoggs ... both returning to their marker — leaving him with a son in one place, and a daughter in another.          Yes, it was reported by Mr Snuffim; that he did witness Mr Hoggs and a young tall, thin boy of no more than seven (you may recall, a boy of eight, answering to the name of Jack,) leaving by train.          However; his poor eyesight played mischief within his understanding.           In fact he saw Mr Hoggs and the boy arriving.          Confusing can be eyewitness who are of age and with poor eyesight ... seeing only what is going when they should be seeing only what is coming.

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Nothing in this world must stay as was written or sequels passed through generations by songs or stories —  told late at night by grandma, around the family table — only slightly changing each time told ... like a game of pass the parcel or pirate's whisper ... where what is told by one and travels across the room by others ending at another — but is not as it was at the beginning.         Things that are broken forever (can never be returned as one.) But things that are just torn apart, for a short period of time (can always be returned as one,) and this we will encounter with this new family.

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For my part, our eyes meet — tears join as we kiss, that one last time ... before Kate.      This young women who has been within my world, these many  (happy weeks,) removes her small soft hand from between my fingers.        There stood I (in love,) as if never to move again ... in sight of this young happy women — aged seventeen years and six months.         Watching as she crosses the road to rejoin her father and meet for the first time her brother~a brother with so much in common (and appearance,) from any distance.        I can see only her slender build — remembering her bright blue eyes, her clean young skin (showing no sign of sickness or ageing, or any imperfections.)     I can see her long well combed hair (a mixture of dark and light) flowing gracefully over her shoulders.   I can see as she skips away from my hold — gaining in speed to be re-in-nighted once more with a father she loves and a brother she will love in the years that will follow.       I catch a momentary view of her slender figure, moving within her dress, and a glimpse of a uncovered slender ankle — as like a dove flying to be feed ... there at her trough, inter-wound by loving wings, and pecks of affection (nothing; I could provide for this lost bird of paradise,) could or would or should win back the heart and sole of one of Gods little creatures ... put on this earth to test the courage of one Inspector Cutler.

The End