(The title page of the book)
IT’S WILLIAM’S BIRTHDAY. HE GOT UP VERY EARLY AND SNEAKED DOWNSTAIRS. AND WHAT’S THAT, STANDING THERE IN THE LIVING ROOM? A BIKE, A RED BIKE. WILLIAM DANCES AND SHOUTS: I HAVE A BIKE!
FIRST SOME BREAKFAST AND THEN YOU CAN GO BIKING, SAYS DAD. AND THERE GOES WILLIAM. HE DRIVES TILL THE FENCE, BUT HE WANTS TO GO FURTHER, MUCH FURTHER. HE WANTS TO GO TO SPAIN.
I’LL TAKE SOME FOOD FOR ALONG THE ROAD, WILLIAM THINKS. BECAUSE SPAIN IS VERY FAR AWAY. SO, THAT’S THAT. LOOK, THERE HE GOES.
FIRST WILLIAM HAS TO GO THROUGH THE CITY. IT’S TERRIBLY BUSY THERE. THERE ARE JUST SO MANY CARS! BUT A POLICEMAN WHISTLES AND ALL THE TRAFFIC STOPS. WILLIAM DRIVES EASILY THROUGH IT ALL.
AND NOW WILLIAM IS ALREADY OUTSIDE OF TOWN. HE DRIVES VERY FAST AND IS A LONG WAY FROM HOME.
OVER HERE IT’S QUIET. WILLIAM IS HUNGRY AND EATS. AND THE BIRDS ARE GETTING SOME TOO. AND THE SQUIRREL ALSO.
BUT MOM AND DAD KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THAT. THEY ARE WORRIED. WILLIAM IS GONE. DAD CALLS THE POLICE. HE SAYS: A LITTLE BOY HAS DISSAPEARED. OUR LITTLE BOY. HIS NAME IS WILLIAM. WITH BLOND HAIR AND FAT CHEEKS?, SAYS THE INSPECTOR. WE’LL TRY TO FIND HIM.
IN THE MEANTIME THE SUN SETS. WILLIAM IS VERY FAR AWAY. HE IS VERY TIRED. JUST A LITTLE REST, HE THINK. JUST FOR A MOMENT.
THE RADIO SAYS: EXTRA POLICE MESSAGE. THE PEOPLE AT HOME ARE LISTENING. A LITTLE BOY HAS DISSAPEARED, THEY SAY. THAT’S JUST TOO BAD. POLICE CARS ARE LOOKING ALL OVER TOWN. A PHOTOGRAPH OF WILLIAM APPEARS ON TELEVISION. NOW ALL THE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE.
(People with flashlights are searching.)
A THOUSAND LITTLE LIGHTS ARE SEARCHING FOR WILLIAM. IN THE CITY AND ON THE ROAD, IN THE FIELD AND IN THE WOODS. A THOUSAND LITTLE LIGHTS ARE SEARCHING AND SEARCHING. AND THE MOON IS SEARCHING WITH THEM.
WILL THEY FIND HIM? THERE... UNDER THAT TREE... ISN’T THERE SOMETHING LYING THERE? OH YES. THERE IS WILLIAM. HURRAY... HURRAY... HE’S THERE!
WILLIAM IS BEING BROUGHT HOME IN A BIG CAR. HI MOM, HI DAD. OH, THEY ARE SO HAPPY!
BUT WILLIAM IS TIRED, SO VERY TIRED. HE’S LYING IN HIS BED AND IMMEDIATELY FALLS ASLEEP. AND HE DREAMS THAT HE GOES FAR AWAY ON HIS BIKE. VERY FAR AWAY. TO SPAIN.
-THE END-
