The Disappearance of Sabrina Banks

By Wanda Richardson

The book is about three young girls that have been friends since grade school. In their junior year of school, they are giving a project for their English class. The project is for them to write pen pals. The pals are trouble children throughout the US. One of their letters gets picked up by a bad man, and he kidnaps and kills the girl. Now the police have to try and figure out who did it and why.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781728310671

Wanda Richardson

Wanda Richardson is a forty-seven year old female from Anderson South Carolina. This is her first book, but not her last. She has three grown children and six grandbabies. She worked as a teacher for over 10 years and loved working with small children. She dreamed about writing for a while. Then one day, she decided to write. Once started the words seem to just come out. She enjoys writing very much. Her hobbies are writing, reading, and most of all spending time with her family.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

GETTING PIN PALS

Emily, Anna, and Sabrina being friends since second grade walk in the classroom early like they always did at the beginning of school to insure they get a seat next to each other. Welcome back to school juniors. I hope everyone had a wonderful summer, says Ms. Timber. I have a great project planned for you this year. You will be writing to a pin-pal in place of essays we usually right. I have gotten some names from a case worker of the Department of Social Services. They gathered up names of mistreated and troubled children all around the United States that they feel would benefit from being in this program. Now what I would like for you to do is look over the list and the problems that the children are facing and pick the one that you feel you could commit to writing to. When you pick the one you want please come up to my desk and sign your name by the child you choose. It took almost the whole class for everyone to look at the names and to decide. Sabrina was the first one to go up to her desk. She found Tom’s name and put hers beside it. Emily and Anna were the next to go up and get in line. After class was over they discussed the names they picked. Emily said she pick a girl from Oklahoma named Marie. Anna had chosen a boy named Charlie from Ohio. Sabrina picked Tom from Arizona. She picked him because he was a teenager like her and she felt they would have more in common to talk about with him. The girls discussed their pin-pals every day for the next four months. As the Thanksgiving break came up they were excited because they knew when they go back to school they get to write and send off their first letter to their pals. Living on the same street allowed the girls to spend a lot of time together. They loved to go to each other’s houses to eat and have sleepovers. Sabrina couldn’t wait to get her letter started so while on her school break she went ahead and started. Tom was an eighteen year old boy that was getting ready to graduate high school. She told him all about her two best friends Emily and Anna. She told him about how they met and how long they’ve been friends. She wrote to him about the weather and how it rarely snowed in South Carolina. She told him about the things she liked and about the things she didn’t like, she even asked about his likes and dislikes. After she was done with her letter it ended up being four pages long. On Monday back at school she told Emily and Anna about her letter and they both gasp at the length. When she got to Ms. Timbers class gave the letter to her. Ms. Timber was very surprised that she took all that time to write so much. She read Sabrina’s letter so she could approve it and was really impressed by the fact she took time to really introduce herself to Tom. When Ms. Timber had collected everyone else’s letter she noticed most of them only wrote like a page to a page and a half. She was so glad that at least one of her students was willing to try so hard. As the days go by Emily and Anna also get into writing their pals, but still not as much as Sabrina. Emily found out that her pal was in an orphanage. It made Marie very happy to receive a letter. The high light of her day was to hear her counselor say Marie you have another letter from Emily. She knew Emily would always write something that would make her laugh. She also hoped that Emily wasn’t getting bored by her letters and stop writing. Anna got her first letter from Charlie thanking her for taking time out of her day to write him and to for wanting to be his friend. He told her that his family always worked and really never had time for him, so a pin-pal made him happy. Anna felt very sorry for him because her and her family is really close. Her heart would go out to him in each letter she would send. Anna, Emily, and Sabrina would always get together to discuss what was going on with their pals. One day after Christmas Sabrina got a letter from Tom saying he had gotten in a lot of trouble and got sent to jail. Sabrina wrote him back and said it was okay, and that she would remain his pal. He never told her what he did to get in trouble and being the good trusting friend she was she never asked. She wondered about it often but couldn’t bring it up. As the summer got closer the letters from Tom got to be more personal. He would ask her what she looked like, what her neighborhood was like and even what her daily routine was like. Sabrina didn’t tell anyone about the latest letters because she knew it was against the rules to get that personal. Sabrina got upset because during the last month of school her letters have stopped completely. She talked to Emily and Anna about how the letters had changed from how they were in the beginning and how during the last month she hasn’t gotten a letter. How many letters have you sent to Tom asking about what was going on, asked Anna? I think it was somewhere between five and six, and when I didn’t hear back I decided not to write anymore. I’m sorry Sabrina, but on a positive note Charlie says that things were starting to get better at his house since I told him how to talk to his parents. He wanted to know if it would be okay with me that we continue to write now that school was about to be over. Of course I told him yes and I sent him a PO BOX address and told him to send me his. You got a PO Box, asked Sabrina? Yes I didn’t want to send him my home address. Emily says that Marie told her that she thinks there might be a family that is willing to adopt her. She has talked about this family in several letters and wished they would keep her. She had asked new parents if it would be okay if she and Emily continue to write and they said yes. I also got a PO BOX for her to send letters to. Sabrina starts to feel upset because she was still trying to figure out what happened to Tom. On the last day of school Ms. Timber talked about their pin-pals. She was amazed to find out only half of the class kept up with their pals and out of them only 10 wanted to keep writing. When the class was over Sabrina was going to talk to Ms. Timber about Tom’s letters but changed her mind when she saw that Anna and Emily were waiting for her at the door. With their summers planned out the three of them couldn’t wait. They would be going to Wavey Children’s Camp again like they have done for the last three years. It started as a project and they loved it so much they kept going back. Emily had called Sabrina and Anna and planned a shopping day since camp would be starting in two days. While out Sabrina asked about Charlie and Marie, after hearing they were both fine she opened up about Tom. She was finally honest with them about his jail time, all the way down to the specific things he starting asking her. Oh my Sabrina Anna said shockingly what did you say you didn’t really tell him did you? She lowered her head and said yes and I even sent him a picture. I also sent him my home address I didn’t think about getting a PO BOX. Well Emily said, I think that’s enough don’t you. Sabrina looked up with tears in her eyes and said yes I do. Anna put her arms around her and told her it would be alright that they would keep her secret if that’s what she wanted. In a shocking tone she asked you would really do that for me? Both looked at her a said with no hesitation, DUH. Now says Emily can we get back to picking out these new swim suits? Laughing at how she said it they all go in the store and start shopping. After the suits were found the next things were shoes, and then food. Picking out the shoes only took them about fifteen minutes, so after they ate they had time to take in an afternoon movie. The next day they all went to the lake. Hey how about you two stay at my house tonight that way we can get up eat and hit the road around seven in the morning? Sounds good to me Sabrina I’m sure it will be ok with my mom Anna said, and for me to Emily said. Well I asked my mom earlier so I know its ok with her Sabrina said before jumping in the water. The rest of the afternoon went by pretty fast as they talked, swam and took in some sun. After they left the lake Sabrina dropped each one of them at their house so they could eat supper with their families. After you ask and get packed call me and I’ll come back to get you she told them as they got out. When Sabrina went to pick them back up she got to Emily’s house first. She was standing near the road with three bags. Are you kidding me Emily why do you need all that? Well the smaller one has my make-up and the stuff for my fair skin the middle one has my shoes and the great big one is my clothes of course. Emily being more feminine than the other two really stressed about her looks and appearance at all times. Sabrina just shook her head in I can’t believe you kind of way. Ok well put your stuff in the trunk so we can go Anna is waiting. We they pulled up at Anna’s house she too was standing on the curb with one bag. I know that’s not all you’re carrying Anna asked Emily in an, are you for real kind of tone? Yes, All I need is clothes and my bath stuff so I crammed it all together. Sabrina you really need to talk to her about packing so light, Emily says smiling. Or I could talk to you about over packing, Sabrina replied laughing, but you know I love you girl. Now that everything was in the car they were ready to get back to Sabrina’s. Mrs. Banks greeted them at the door. As they each walked past her they gave her a hug and a kiss. Anna and Emily thanked her for allowing them to stay the night. Nonsense girls I don’t look at it as you spending the night I look at it as you coming home for the night. Thanks Mrs. Banks we love you to, they said. Sabrina. Yes ma’am? Why don’t you go put a movie in and I’ll get you three some popcorn and drinks. I have extra towels and washcloths in the guest bathroom and clean sheets on the beds in the spare room. If you need anything else please let me know. Good night I love you all. Yes, ma’am and good night I love you to, all three girls said at the same time. Mrs. Banks made enough popcorn and drinks for about six people and she set it on the bar and went to bed. Anna turned to her friends and said I’m so excited I can’t believe tomorrow is the first day at camp. As senior counselors we should be able to pick our groups right? Yea Anna, Said Emily I believe so and I want to work with the six and seven year olds. Me to, said Sabrina because we all know there is always a lot of them. Anna said she was hoping to get the thirteen year olds, but I guess it doesn’t really matter as long as we are having fun. After the movie was over they all cleaned up their mess and said good night to each other. Emily got up first and went ahead and got her shower out of the way before Anna or Sabrina got up. While see was getting dressed Anna woke up and got in the shower. Sabrina was up and ready for the shower as soon as Anna got out. While Sabrina was showering and Anna getting dressed Emily went to the kitchen to fix their breakfast. After they all ate they cleaned the kitchen loaded the car and was ready to leave at 6:45 am. Sabrina said the camp is three hours away so we can all drive an hour if that is cool with yall. Sounds good to me Anna said getting in the back seat I’ll drive last. Okay Emily said getting in the passenger seat I’ll drive next. When it was time to change drivers they stopped at the store to use the bathroom and get drinks and snacks. When they loaded back up Emily got in the driver seat Anna got in the passenger seat and Sabrina in the back. When it was time to switch again they went to a restaurant this time. Do you two want to eat here or should we get it to go? Looking at her watch Sabrina asked Anna what she wanted to do. I think we are doing well on time so if you want to go in and stretch our legs we can. Ok then Emily says satisfied eating in it is. When they got through eating they loaded back up and Anna finished the commute. They arrived at the camp at around 10:30 am. Some of the other counselors were already there. As the director Mrs. Shea welcomed them she had to let them know which cabin they had and told them lunch would be at noon, so please get unpacked at meet me in the mess hall. Everyone walked quickly to their cabins. When the three of them were unpacking their bags they noticed a note posted on their message board. It said:

Welcome to Camp Wavey. Things will be a little different this year. We will not have as many teenagers as usual, so I will not need but one person to help me in that department and I have chosen Ms. Ginger. If you had hoped to work in that age group please accept my deepest apologies. However your help will be greatly appreciated in the other areas. Once again I’m truly sorry for the inconvenience.

Mrs. Shea.

Emily looked at Anna and said I’m sorry Anna I know you had your heart set on working the older children but look on the bright side that means you get to work with Sabrina and I. Sabrina agreed with Emily. Yea I guess you’re right, but the older kids just can do so much more. Well Anna, Sabrina says sounds to me we need to really put our brains together and come up with a way to teach the other children how to do things. And Emily said, they won’t have the attitude that the teenagers can have. Oh yea you do have a point there, Anna agreed, so let’s go have some fun. They finished unpacking and went to the mess hall to join the others. They wanted to get there so they could find a spot to sit together. Looking around the room noticing that everyone was through eating and just sitting around, Mrs. Shea figured now would be a good time to address them. She walked over to a small stage. Standing in the middle of the stage with no microphone she had to speak loud. I want to thank you all again for coming. I know you were expecting the children today, but they will not be coming until tomorrow. I figured since we have several new counselors this year we could have a day without children so everyone