BY PAUL GALLAGHER
Mia woke up and still half asleep mumbling to her brother “I cannot believe that we are back at school in a few days, how did our summer holiday go so quick” Charlie replied “It didn’t really go that quick. We had such a good time staying in the caravan in Tangmouth and now we must look forward to seeing our friends and teachers again”.
Mia and Charlie are twins and will be returning to year 9 at the Waterford Academy. Just before they broke up for summer one of the teachers, Miss Radford, who had recently become engaged, was very upset because she had lost her engagement ring, and everyone had searched high and low for it without success.
Mia said “Wouldn’t it be amazing if we found the ring before everyone returned to school.” She then suggested they have a look around the school grounds before they go back to school. They asked their Mum & Dad if they could do just that. Their parents agreed it was a good idea and took them to the school on the following Saturday. Upon arrival, they asked the caretaker if the twins could have a look around the school grounds to see if they could search any places that the ring could have been lost. The caretaker said he has tried and tried with no luck so far and was happy to have the children’s help and so the search began.
After almost two hours they thought their idea was not working and nearly gave up. There were just a couple more places that perhaps Miss Radford would have been, one where she stands to supervise morning breaks, and the back entrance where the teachers go into the school. At the back entrance the twins found something reflecting in the grass and weeds. On inspection they uncovered a rectangular metal cover, and felt round the edges to see if the ring had fallen there. There was a small gap around the cover, and even if everyone had looked there it would have been almost impossible to have found a small diamond ring. The twins went to find their parents and asked their Dad if he could carefully lift the cover. On lifting the cover there was a shallow drainage area, and just inside was a metal box, which was quickly lifted out and opened. Inside the box were bundles of documents, and so not to disturb the area any further, the Police were called.
The Police arrived and cordoned off the area and told the twins that they would contact them once they had obtained more information about their find. It is very strange how a good turn leads to another, because the box was stolen some years ago from an elderly gentleman and his wife, who live near to the school.
The twins were told that the documents are very valuable Bonds that can be exchanged for a considerable amount of money, and when the box had been stolen from the elderly couple all of their life savings had gone. The Police assumed that the thieves had been disturbed and panicked, so hid the box under the metal cover, but never returned to collect it. When the twins returned to school the following Monday they were greeted by the head teacher, and the elderly couple.
In addition to thanking them both for finding the box, the owners of the box gave the twins a lovely present each on hearing the reason for their search for the engagement ring. The couple also left an envelope for Miss Radford containing enough money so that she could replace the lost ring. Miss Radford was happy the children made the effort to help her and thanked the couple also for their generous gift.
What happened to the engagement ring remains a mystery. Perhaps one day other children will look to do good and search for the missing ring.