Lily was bringing up her little boy Jack all on her own. Shed split from Tom right after the baby came, the night he went off with his mates and never looked back. The only bloke who really stepped in was Jacks granddad, George. Lily cant even picture how shed have managed without him, both with the nappies and the rent.
After the divorce the money vanished Tom never paid any child support. Lily had to get a job, and George sighed, clapped his hands and said, Right then, off you go. Ill watch Jack. Dont worry, Ive got it. So George spent every day with the lad, and Lily was stuck at the shop all day, barely seeing her son.
One crisp morning Lily was pulling on her coat for work when Jack jumped out of bed, all bright-eyed, and shouted, Granddads taking us mushroompicking today, isnt he? Lily turned to George and asked, Really, love? Where are we off to this time? He tipped his hat and replied, Were heading to Ashford Forest they say the porcini are coming in. George had been a keen forager and fisherman since he was a lad, and hed always tried to pass that love on to Jack.
Lily didnt mind, so she said, Just dont be out too late, alright? George winked, Well be back with a couple of baskets before the stars are out, yeah Jack? The boy grinned, and they set off on the bus, then walked the rest of the way. Ashford Forest starts right on the edge of town, so even a sevenyearold could manage the trek.
Just as they were about to hit the trees a car pulled up beside them. Hey, George! Off to the woods again? the driver called out. It was Albert, an old mate of Lilys dad. Heard the porcini are in full swing. Albert shook his head, Those mushrooms are gone in Ashford, theyve all been picked over. Head over to Bramble Wood instead Im going that way, hop in if you like. George nodded, Give us a lift if you dont mind. Albert dropped them off near the edge of Bramble Wood and promised they could catch a ride back if they needed one.
Jack loved wandering through the woods with his granddad. George answered every one of the hundred questions a curious sevenyearold could throw at him, and to Jack his granddad was a walking encyclopedia. They soon found a patch teeming with mushrooms, and got so caught up in the hunt they wandered deeper than theyd planned. Suddenly George flapped his arms, stumbled, and went down hard.
Jack didnt panic at first. He ran over, Granddad, you okay? but George didnt answer. The boy tried to lift him, shaking him gently, shouting, Come on, get up! Im scared, Granddad, please! Nothing happened.
That evening Lily got home, looked for Jack and George, and found the house empty. She tried calling George, but his phone was dead. Did they not get back from the forest? she muttered, her chest tightening. An hour later panic turned to fullblown worry, and two hours later she was at the police station, breathless, explaining, My son and his granddad went into the woods and havent come back! The officer on duty, a decent bloke, immediately rang up the local volunteer search team.
The volunteers were out there in under two hours, combing Ashford Forest with Lily, a handful of constables, and anyone whod help. Jack was still out there, alone, staring at his unmoving granddad.
He whispered to himself, Calm down, love. What would George do? Keep a clear head. He even smacked his own cheek to wake himself up. First thing, does he breathe? The thought terrified him what if he wasnt?
Jack put his ear to Georges chest. The rise and fall was faint, but there. Hes breathing, the boy said, relief flooding his voice. He settled down, tried to call his mum, but there was no signal. So he waited.
Night fell. As the cold crept in, Jack recalled every tip George had given about surviving in the woods. If night comes and he doesnt wake up, the cold will bite him. He rummaged in his backpack for a lighter, gathered dry twigs, and coaxed a fire. It sputtered at first, then flared. Now for more wood before it gets dark, he muttered, snapping pine branches and shoving them beneath the flames. You wont freeze, Granddad. Well keep warm together, just like you taught me.
The shadows whispered, making Jacks heart pound, but he kept the fire alive, feeding it whenever the flames flickered. In the early morning he sipped from his thermos, pouring half into Georges mouth, lifting his head gently. You need water, he thought, spotting a small spring nearby. He remembered Georges warning: Dont eat those red berries, theyre foxglove poisonous. Jack filled his flask with water instead, leaving the berries untouched.
Searches went on for three days. Volunteers kept looping through the forest, fresh faces arriving from the town, all hoping for a break. Lily, eyes darkcircles under her lashes, paced between teams, pleading for them not to give up. She avoided the woods herself, but the fear for her son kept her going.
On the fourth day a volunteer, trying to be brave, said, Statistically, after three days the chances of finding them alive drop a lot. Weve covered the forest; maybe theyre in the marsh beyond. Lily shouted, No! George knew this area like the back of his hand; hed never lead Jack into a swamp! Theyre alive, I know it! Keep looking!
On the fifth day a car screeched to a halt near the edge of the woods. Out stepped Albert, a good friend of Lilys dad. Lily, what on earth is happening here? he asked, looking at the volunteers and the search gear. When he heard the story his face went pale. I drove them to Bramble Wood five days ago, he whispered. Lilys voice cracked, Everyone, back here! Bring them in!
A few hours later a young university student, part of the volunteer crew, caught a faint smell of smoke. He followed it and found a barely smouldering fire, two figures huddled under a blanket. He called softly, Jack? One of the shapes twitched it was the boy. Youve been looking for us forever. Granddad kept coming round, I gave him water and a bit of bread. Hes alive, just unconscious, Jack said in a hoarse voice.
The ragged boy was cradled by his tearsoaked mother as paramedics lifted George onto a stretcher. Granddad, you have to stay with me, Jack whispered, I still have so much to learn from you.
They all breathed a sigh of relief as the ambulance roared away, the forest finally quiet after its frantic, heartwrenching night.
