Thank you strangers, whoever you were, for delivering my child from harms way. See, I just washed the dog, was shirtless, and looking fairly unpresentable having just returned from leading 17 boys on a rock climbing camping trip. By the time I grabbed a shirt you were gone. I suppose I should have just gone to your car. It would have completed the picture of an irresponsible white trash parent for you. My almost 6 year old daughter was trying to find the neighbor’s dog after it ran away and the neighbor, thinking the children wouldn’t wander far, told the children they could not come back into the house until the dog was found. My daughter knows she cannot go past a certain marking on the street but apparently did not know she could not cross the creek. That creek is thick with mud and still has water from our recent deluges. She found her way to Northshore Drive which is one of those roads riddled with crosses on the shoulder and enough road kill to create an A to Z picture book of dead animals. This is the same road I fought for three years to convince the school that our elementary school bus stop should not be on that road.
I have to say this event has created conflict in so many ways. The wife and I are bitterly angry at each other because I grew furious that she wouldn’t go greet you. She did not understand what I was asking, did not see you pull up, and also considered herself unpresentable. Instead you met my oldest son. He has an issue with social situations and does not understand things like asking for your name so that I have some semblance of a clue about whether or not you were friends or just plain good Samaritans. You also met my dog who is a very friendly and safe German Shepherd but has taken to running toward strangers at the house with a fear inducing bark but really she just wants to say hi and let us know you are here. I got mad because I just soaked myself and made my back ache giving her a bath on the porch but apparently I am the only person in our family capable of opening the front door without letting the dog outside. I am upset with my daughter for straying so far from home, for being on such a dangerous road, and for getting in a car with someone she did not recognize, "because she told [her] to get in and [she] didn’t want to be rude." At the same time, I am thrilled that she got in the car with you! I will have to re-think this whole brainwashing our children to not trust strangers bit. After all, aren’t most people good? Shouldn’t we trust each other? Thanks again for keeping my child safe!
Update: Later the neighbor did drive out and find their dog safe and sound.
[…] Amy, almost 6 years old: "I didn’t know her. I got in her car because she told me to get in and I didn’t want to be rude." […]
You were very fortunate. You could have lost your daughter. Thank God for the Good Samaritan who looked after your precious child.
Many years ago in Scotland, I came across a three year old child in a simlar predicament. His father was a farmer and the wee boy had followed his tractor down to the busy road. When I saw the child, I instantly stopped my car and rushed to pick him up in the midst of other speeding motorists. Just then his father appeared and his face was white with shock. I handed the infant over to him and he was reduced to tears. He knew that I was the parish minister, and he thanked God for the saving of his boy’s life.
Don’t take your kids for granted. They are precious.
May God watch over you and enable you to fullfill your dreams.
We are very fortunate! I only wish I had been less prideful and run to the car shirtless to thank the kind folk. I agree that children should never be taken for granted as does my wife.
[…] than intended at the church with the people cleaning. I wasn’t home long before I became so enraged that I simply could not work. Comments after […]
thank God it turned out fine!
I get sick to my stomach just thinking of the alternatives.