New Instincts

Have I mentioned that I love my job?  I do.  For so many reasons.  One is that this job really pushes my growing edges.  I have learned and changed so much this year.  Sometimes, though, change can be uncomfortable.  This came home to me the other night when something strange happened.

I took my son to a store to get a birthday card for his sister.  The store is a few miles from our house, on a very busy road.  On the way, I caught site of what I thought was a woman struggling to push a shopping cart along the road.  When we got closer, I realized it wasn’t a woman, but a girl.  I thought this was odd, but that’s about it.  Onward we went.

When we left the store, about half an hour later, it was getting dark.  We drove back toward home and I noticed the shopping cart a little way down the road, abandoned.  A little way further, I spied the girl again, still walking.  I passed her and a red flag went up.  HEY!  IT’S DARK AND SHE’S YOUNG!  THIS ISN’T RIGHT!!!  I said to my son, we’re turning around to get her.  “Oh geez,” he said, while slumping way down in his seat.

I turned around and went back, hoping she wouldn’t freak out/be crazy/be armed.  I pulled up to her and noticed she was carrying a stuffed toy and crying.  I said, Would you like a ride?  She said nothing, just got in the car.  We drove a bit and I started trying to chit chat.  So…are you ok?  What happened?  “Oh,” she said, “My dad left me at the store by accident.”

Right.  And I’m the Queen Mother.

Ah.  So…how old are you?  “13.”  (I was shocked.  She looked a LOT younger.)  Wow.  I have a daughter that age.  What’s your name?  “Fabulousa.”  Nice name.  Where do you go to school?  “Main School #13.”  Really?  Do you know Ms. So-and-so there?  “Yes, I know her.”

This continued in a light and fairly easy manner.  I asked her where she wanted to go and she told me a local park.  She said there was a family birthday party there.  So, that’s where we went.  When we got there, the place was deserted.  I let her go, even though I didn’t want to.  I didn’t know what to do.  I drove straight home and called Ms. So-and-so, who is my friend and one of the social workers at the school.  I told her the story and before I was even finished, she said, “OH MY GOSH.  Is her name Fabulosa???”  I said yes and she said, “Oh!  She ran away from school today.  She’s got mental health issues and stopped taking her meds.  Said she was going to go to the city to get a bus ticket!!!  I’m going to go look for her!”

Thankfully, she found her.  I hope she’ll be ok, but based on what she told me about this poor kid’s life, I dunno.

It’s just so weird.  On the one hand, I am grateful for my new job because before it, this little girl wouldn’t have even registered on my radar.  And I am grateful *I* am the one who picked her up and not some person with nefarious intentions.  But, after seeing this underbelly, I am beginning to wonder, is ignorance bliss?