A lot of you must have heard what happened in church today. It seems that at some point, someone announced that there was a little hispanic boy lost in the church parking lot, with no shirt or shoes on. I missed the announcement, I think I was in the bathroom or just talking to someone on the way to Sunday School. But it couldn't be Caleb anyway because I sent him home with Roman and Alyssa. Caleb was out of control during sacrament meeting and Alyssa needed a nap.
It was very surprising to me when Sister Johnson came to get me in Sunday School. Only Tatyana was in her class, what did they need me for? As I got out of class and saw Rosemary Todeschinni holding Caleb, it took me about fifteen seconds to even open my mouth to say: "What?"
How could he be there in her arms when I saw Roman taking him home? He had Rosemary's coat on, so I didn't even realize that he didn't have his shirt on until she told me. His socks were wet from walking on the snow. And then it happened... That feeling of being a bad mother, of fear of something really bad happening to one of your kids, of him being picked up by a bad person... I didn't know if I was mad at him for walking all the way from home to church by himself, in the middle of winter, with no shirt or shoes on, or if I was really happy that he was safe in my arms again.
Roman wasn't going to be this lucky... I told Rosemary: "If I get home and Roman is playing video games, I'm going to kill him!" How could he let Caleb get away like that? How could he miss the sound of the door shutting? How could he be so careless? Caleb wasn't in trouble at all...
As soon as I got Caleb in the car, I saw Roman pulling in the church parking lot. He asked from his car: "Do you have him?" And I just nodded. I could see on his facial expression that he was scared, and very nervous.
We went back to the house and Roman opened the Ford's door, grabbed Caleb and hugged him. Roman had teary eyes and was relieved to see him. I couldn't be mad anymore... I thought he's had enough. He told me everything that happened. How he thought that Caleb was asleep in his bedroom, how he kept looking for him all over the house, opening every closet door. He went to our neighbors' houses, but nobody was home. He went up the road on the way to church, and he thought that Caleb couldn't have been so fast, so he went back to the house. He decided to drive up to the river to see if he was there, but he wasn't. He finally decided to check the church one more time, and if he didn't find him he was going to call the police. That's when he found us in the church parking lot, ready to head back home. Roman went through twenty five minutes of pure terror, not knowing where Caleb was.
You would think that after Caleb went out in the cold without shoes or shirt on, that he would have thought: "It's cold, maybe I should go back home." Nope. He had to keep going, all the way to the church building. The hispanic boy, that looked homeless, was my Caleb. My pig headed son.
I went back to the church to give Rosemary her coat back. Tatyana was still there too, in class. When we went back home, the kitchen door that opened to the garage was locked. I think Roman learned his lesson.
One day we'll be able to look back and laugh... We're not at that point yet.
10 comments:
Oh wow. I'm so glad everyone's OK!
I guess Caleb really likes church! I'm so thankful he's okay and hope you two will be soon. :) I loved hearing what Roman did when he saw Caleb.
Wow...you made me cry with this story. It could be any of us in that situation.
I'm so glad everyone is ok!!!!
Wow, that is all I can say. I can't believe that happened. Poor Caleb, poor you, and poor Roman.
Oy...boys! We've done that too. And, like you, we always check the river first!
I'm glad all ended well. I was told about that "little hispanic boy" and directed some others to help out!!
Oh my gosh! I'm glad he is ok. I would die! You are such a GREAT mom, things happen and you just have to move on... I'm sending you a BIG HUG right now!
Eu imagino o pavor que vc sentiu Roberta. Que bom que nada ruim aconteceu com o Caleb.Por isso eu tinha tanto medo de ter um menino, porque eu acho eles muito criativos, terriveis (mais divertidos). Aproveitando, desejo um otimo ano a vc Roberta e a sua familia, e se prepare para as mais novas do seu pequeno Caleb.
How scary, Roberta! That has happened a few times with various children with me, and the horror that goes through your mind is awful. I'm glad all worked out. You'd think bare feet on icy ground would've made him turn around and go home. If only kids would follow all the rules...it'd probably be boring.
Nossa Roberta...Que susto hein....Mais que bom saber que ele esta bem ...Eu imagino o alivio que vc e seu marido tiveram em saber que tudo acabou bem....Um super beiju!
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