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Stories from Around the World
The Kidnapping of Henri Brown
July 6, 2019
Henri is a little monkey – a good-natured little tease. Because he’s left-handed, life is not organized for him. Dr. Brown, Henri’s daddy, is a naturopath. Henri is learning how to walk. He never did like staying still, and neither does his best friend, baby Rockefeller,. Henri is in the doctor’s bag so he won’t run away. He got himself into the bag and he’s playing. He’s doing things his way and showing off. “It’s my way or the highway! Look at me! Look at me! Catch me if you can!” Henri is saying this in his mind because he can’t speak yet, except to say Mon Pere to daddy. He is waiting for daddy to come home.
Henri’s in trouble all the time, and that’s why he’s so happy. He can get away with anything, cause he has dad wrapped around his little finger. Henri is like a politician; he can conquer the world.
It is the 1930s. The families are replacing naturopathic medicine with pharmaceuticals.
Henri was born in Eastern Canada – Quebec. His mom, an unwed mother, couldn’t take care of him and gave him up for adoption. Dr. Brown and his wife, Michelle, adopted Henri when he was a new baby and changed his name from Henri Rocheval to Henri Brown. He was baptized at the church as Henri Brown and has accepted his new name. Henri’s adoptive mom, Michelle Brown, is very independent. She works in the doctors office with dad while the maid takes care of Henri.
One morning, the maid put Henri on the front lawn and someone kidnapped him. The R.C.M.P. were everywhere, looking for him. They searched road by road and tree by tree. Even airplanes searched. Michelle was praying. Dr. and Mrs. Brown received a ransom note demanding $10,000.00 for Henri’s safe return. In 1930 that was a lot of money! The Browns re-mortgaged the house and someone from the church said, “If we all donate, we can raise the money.” And so the ransom was paid to the kidnapper, who turned out to be someone who needed money to get help from a doctor who was on the pharmaceutical payroll.
The police got a lead on the kidnapper, caught him and put him in jail. When Henri was returned unharmed to his parents, the community organized a proper hanging for the kidnapper.
After the hanging, everyone went to church and thanked God for returning Henri safely.
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