Held to Ransom
by
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Chapter 1 The School Bus Lucy didn’t notice anything when she got on the school bus that morning. They’d slept in and she’d dashed out of the house to reach the bottom of Egton Lane where it stopped. She was puffing and panting as she climbed up the step and noticed nothing but the driver. Good job it was late this morning or she'd have missed it all together. Her mother, Louise Heggs, had waved to her from the front door and told her to have a nice day. She’d shouted after Lucy to remind her they were going Christmas shopping after school. It was winter and had been snowing through the night. Lucy had been careful not to slip as she ran. She showed the driver her pass. He was not the usual one. She’d never seen him before.
“Is Sam sick?” she asked. 2 “Something like that,” the driver muttered. He didn’t look at her. Lucy thought he was a very unfriendly driver, not like Sam who was always jolly and ready to tell jokes and chat to the kids who got on the school bus. When she turned round to take a seat the bus was empty. She was the only one on it! “Where are all the other kids?” she enquired. I’m new to the job. Thought I picked you up
“No, except you’ll probably be late in picking the other kids up in the village,” she replied. He made no comment, just a grunt. The bus travelled along the seafront of Summerhill. They passed Fenmore Primary School but Lucy thought nothing of it because he had to pick up the children from the village. When they arrived at the bus stop none of her friends were waiting. “Must have got the service bus because you’re late,” she remarked. The driver grunted in response and muttered under his breath. He continued through the village, turned around and went along Coronation Drive at the far end of the sea front. He drove past Fenmore Primary School again. She could see some of her friends in the playground. Lucy was in the last year of primary school and excited about going to the large Comprehensive School in September. “You’ve gone past the school mister,” she said. The driver didn't speak, he kept his eyes on the road. They were now in open countryside.
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About the Book
One winter morning, ten year old Lucy runs for the school bus which stops at the bottom of
Lucy faces a series of hopes and disappointments as she strives to find a way to escape and return to her Mum and Dad. But is she alone during her trauma and what is the weird feeling that she experiences? Is someone watching over her or adding further panic to her ordeal. Will she ever see her parents or friends again?
About the Author
Joan Spence, the author of this book, was born in a little village in
She has two grown up daughters and four young grandchildren all of whom she and her husband see regularly and share in their caring.
Her best subject at school was mathematics but she also enjoyed English and loved to write stories having notebooks full of them as a child.
Joan left school at 15 years of age with no formal qualifications. However, she undertook further education on an evening and trained as a shorthand typist, sitting examinations in Mathematics and English at the same time. At the age of 50 she completed the Diploma in Social Work at
Joan’s decision to publish with Author House came following the difficulties she has encountered, in this present financial climate, with mainstream publishers’ reluctance to take on new authors. She was urged on by the fact that many famous authors wouldn’t be published today if they hadn’t decided to self publish.