The Mind-Boggling Stupidity of Someone Other Than Yours Truly

Last night I was out on a run* when I came upon a small boy (maybe 3 years old?) standing alone on a corner.  Of a busy-ish street.  BY HIMSELF.  Did I mention the part where it was damn-near dark?

“Sweetie, are you lost?”  I asked him.  He pointed across the street to two little girls playing in another front yard and told me he needed to get to them.  I figured maybe his sisters ditched him or something and he was waiting for a grown-up to walk him across the street, so I offered to take him.

“He lives at that house!” one of the girls yelled to me.

“Oh, honey, you should ask your mommy or daddy if you can go over there.”

“Will you wait for me?”

“Yes, I’ll stay here,” I answered, thinking that maybe once the kid made it known that he was chillin’ on a street corner his parents/guardians/sitter/whoever the fuck was supposed to be keeping him alive would be all, “Oh yes.  You.  Let’s get you inside.”  He walked up to the door, let himself in, and I could see him talking to a woman who was so engrossed in her phone call that she never removed the receiver from her ear to actually TALK TO THE KID.  Some dude was also wandering around in the background, seemingly oblivious to everything happening.  She followed the boy outside as he pointed to me and I offered up a “Hi, I was just running by and saw him so…yeah.  He was out here by himself…” I trailed off.  The woman never removed the phone or stopped her conversation and just sort of acknowledged me with a head nod so I continued on my way.  I didn’t really know what else to do, to tell the truth.  I didn’t have my phone with me, and caling cops or CPS seemed a bit much, and I made sure the adult (seemingly) in charge was aware that the child was outside, but it still bugs me today. 

Some thoughts I had throughout the duration of my outing:

• While I know that I am not a kidnapper/murderer/sketchy person, how did THAT LADY not at least have the GET AWAY FROM MY KID, STRANGER TALKING TO [MY] KID reaction before ascertaining that I wasn’t there to lure the kid into my van with promises of puppies and candy?
• What phone call is SO IMPORTANT and ENGROSSING that you cannot pull yourself away long enough to tend to a child who is trying to make a run for it to another house?
• Is this how things roll for this kid?  He’s left to fend for himself with the hope that he’ll just magically make it to the end of the day in one piece?  Or was this an isolated incident and random case of Distracted Mom/Caregiver?
• Am I one of those dickhead childfree people who unabashedly judges other people without knowing the whole story?  (The answer to this one is likely a resounding YES since I am a pretty judgy dickhead in a lot of areas.)

I don’t really know what my point is here other to rant and reassure myself that I did what I could, I didn’t see the kid being actively abused, don’t know the whole story, etc.  Also: when in the hell did I become Debbie Do-Gooder who’s all about stopping kids from bodily harm?  I mean, I’ve never used a toddler as a human shield before, but I don’t tend to get involved in strangers’ shit.  Perhaps 2012 will be the year of a kinder, gentler me, at least when I literally run into someone who seems to need a little help.

 

 

*Yes, I went running, something that seems to have surprised a lot of people.  I am supposed to participate in an upcoming 5k with my sister-in-law, niece, and some friends so I need to get in shape so I don’t poop myself.  Also, having your father-in-law tell you you’re fat will really light a fire in your workout motivation!  In my own stunning display of brilliance I managed to hurt my knee pretty badly…while getting into my car.  Running for the first time in who-knows-how-long?  Not sore in the least.  Getting into my own car to go get lunch?  Almost shattered my knee cap.  Aces.  I probably WILL shit myself during this 5k, won’t I?