..... Day 2

Day 2.I'm up at 4:30am Gloria's knock out pill didn't last long...but I needed the nap for the strength I am going to need today...Rescue begins at 6:oo am because of low tide....Island is swarming with news reporters...CNN, ABC, Local networks....local newpapers....Rick arrives at 7:00am...He is told all we know at this point..."why weren't you watching the boys out here??!!" What??!! Oh my god... the guilt...darkness.. set in deep within my soul where it would stay for years to come making... itself at home in my mind, heart, soul....God forgive me for not being a better protector... my sisters Christy and Angie flew in to the Charleston airport at noon...Hilary seens a limo to bring them to the island... a great support for Gloria and me... Rick has not left the shore... Coke, Pepsi, Burger King, KFC, local stores, keeping supplies for Rescue workers and volunteers... 3pm Christy decides to call her Psychic in Jonesboro to help.. Carol. " he is safe, he will be found next to a boat shed, white boat, wooded area"... Hope... I know where she is talking about, was there yesterday while searching for him.. got in my car with a bull horn...drove to the boat shed where the white boat sat 200 feet from the woods... sat waiting......it is dark still no signs of Chad....calling out to him praying he will follow my voice and walk out of the woods... scared, glad to see me... waiting....8 pm Nan, Joan, Carolyn, Uncle Randal, Aunt Joella, arrive in Charleston after driving all day to get to me... Rick comes to the boat shed tells me to ride into town to get them with Christy and Angie... but what he comes out and I'm not here?... He insist.. we go... 8:00pm Ruscue search stops will resume am... surrounded by love, support..many questions...no answers....no sleep... Joan insist I take something to help me sleep....I did....

In Memory of Chad Dawson

It was a day like any other. June 6, 1988. A beautiful sunny, warm day filled with many events. Breakfast on the back porch-grits and butter-watching the squirrels play, the boys playing tee-ball with the set I purchased the day before. Phone rings-Gloria needs help- 400 people expected next weekend for grad party_ Chad hits Brad with plastic bat because he wouldn't give his ball back...Brad crying, Chad gets spanked, Gloria in panic...we go to the island of Wadmalaw. McDonald's happy meals for lunch, new toy-blow up boat. We arrive at 1:00p.m. Glo and I sit and watch my boys play..talk about the big event... pick blackberries for dessert... then it's off to work we go. 2:00p.m. Cleaning glass, polishing silver, washing china...meanwhile, Chad and Brad are playing the tree out front...hear laughter...boys have come in and ask several times when we are going to the water to sail my new boat? When [Aunt] Gloria and I finish the Dining room we will walk over and play with the boat. I promise.

3:15 p.m. Dining room done. Check list complete. Brad walks into Dining room-arms folded, head bowed, lip puckered, frown. "Chad went to the water and he won't let me go" looked out window-gate wide open Chad no where in sight. Panic-angry-disobeyed first rule: can only leave the yard with me, Gloria or John. Gloria watched Brad, left to walk over to the water. Chad no where to be found. Panic- thought he heard me calling him-took the other path home. Buckshot, black lab, running towards me, running in circles, running to the pier and back ...thought...wants to play...don't have time....came back to house-Chad no where to be found. Panic-Fear-Worry. Gloria, Brad and I went back to the water. Chad no where to be found. Panic-Fear-Worry-Anxiety. I walk to the Yacht club to see if he had gone to see [Uncle] John. Chad no where to be found. No one had seen him. Bee was to busy in her garden to notice if he had came this way, will help search. Go back to house to see if he is there yet.... no!!!! Total Panic-Several people looking now...Where is he? Is he hiding because he knows I'm upset? Is he afraid to come out for fear of breaking the rule? Does he know his way home? Has he been kidnapped? no...everybody on the island knows him..me...Is he hurt..unconscious somewhere...can't hear us calling him...dead...No can't go there...lost....he must me lost...can't find his way home..must find him..getting late...

4:30 p.m.- I call 911"My 6 year old son has been missing for some hour and half, please send help!!!" Where are you located? Wadmalaw Island! We are sending someone out." 4:45 p.m. Buckshot, black lab, brings Chad's flip flop out of the water gives to Gloria 4:50 p.m. Gloria calls 911 "WERE ARE YOU! We have a 6 year old boy believed drown, please send help." What? NO THIS CAN"T BE.

5:43 p.m. Island is covered- Rescue Divers start search at 6:15 p.m., Rescue Helicopters, Boats, volunteers, neighbors, blacks and white together searching for my son, all over the island now. Chad no where to be found. Rescue stopped at 8:45 p.m getting to dark to see...will resume 6:45 a.m. tomorrow...no you can't stop looking... finally reach Rick in Norfolk Virginia....out playing pool with friends...Chad is missing, please come home...I need you!!!....Gloria calls in all family....she needs them... can't sleep.......

Dear God in heaven, please let him be okay, please help us find him, please i beg you..I will do anything you ask ...please let him come home before dark....please make this nightmare go away..please I promise.. I will do anything...I swear.

11:55p.m. Chad no where to be found..Its dark.. Is he scared,cold,safe. Gloria gave me a pill to help me to sleep...don't want to sleep..need to be Looking ... waiting ... watching .... praying .... praying .... can't sleep....crying to sleep..