The Black
Forest Labyrinth It was the end of the summer in Weroth, a tiny village in West Germany. Autumn was slowly creeping
in, announcing its entry with roughly blowing winds. The trees were gradually giving up their green color in exchange for soft pastels, and the air was turning crisp and cold in the evenings. As usual, children's voices collided in the air all day and mothers in the neighborhood could brilliantly pick up the voice codes of their kids from a long distance, giving them feedback of their safety. I had finished an exhausting task of gardening and had taken a rest in the living room. I could faintly hear my six year old daughter and four year old son playing with the neighbor's kids. My husband had driven to a far away town, to meet with the boy's club. I was all alone at home. How I cherish such peaceful moments! The air was beginning to turn unpleasantly cold as the sun went down. My beautiful rest was interrupted by a buzz on the door. A neighbor's girl, Innesa, was looking for her
little brother Dennis and his dog Charlie; a westie terrier puppy. It was not unusual for Dennis to take off from his home. He was a four year old boy with a mind of his own, who always found his way around the village. Only this time he had dragged my son Jeremy along. It was 7:00pm. Darkness was closing in and my daughter returned home alone, claiming she couldn't find her little brother Jeremy. She had last seen him with Dennis and that was a couple of hours before. I was hit by Panic! The two little boys were up to something somewhere forbidden. Since Dennis got his little dog, he's been feeling like a big man, walking the dog all over the village, showing him off. A few days ago, I overheard him challenging Jeremy to join him and Charlie for a walk in the deeply forested woods behind our house. I had strongly interrupted with a clear no. Little Dennis challenged my decision, saying he wasn't afraid of the
forest because Charlie would protect them, and besides, he could beat any bad guy. How could Dennis underestimate the danger hidden behind those monstrous trees, hundreds of years old, and those impassable thickets? Hasn't he heard of Hansel and Gretel? What foolishness! My motherly instinct sounded an alarm! The boys were sure gone to the forest and couldn't find their way back! It was a huge, dark forest and frequented by nature lovers all summer long. I grabbed a flashlight, a warm jacket and quickly put on some runners then ran door to door, asking neighbors to help in the search. Someone called the police and my husband. My heart pounded, fearing for the worst –kidnap, murder, death-every mother's nightmare! Oh God, Help! Thoughts raced through my head. My son has a serious burn under the elbow that week. What if his wound got scratched by twigs? And he had only sandals, shorts, and a T-shirt on. He could fall into a hole and break his ankles, or freeze to death, or be attacked and be eaten by wild pigs or foxes! God forbid. We hastily scattered into the forest in twos, asking joggers along their way for information and desperately calling out loud; "Dennis! Jeremy!, where are you?" Silence, not even an eerie echo could be heard.