One of the Bravest Things I've Ever Done

“This is none of your business,” said the man.

I told him, “Leave the boy alone, why were you trying to put him in your car?”

“Mind your own business and go away,” ordered the man. I didn’t move. I stood there face to face with the man. I was afraid he would strike me but more afraid of what would happen to the boy. Finally the man walked away toward his car. I thought he had given up and would drive away.

“Where is your mom?” I asked the boy.

“I don’t know. She is in the store.”

“What is her name?”

“Her name is Mommy”.

After a while maybe fifteen minutes or so I knew it would be hard soon so I decided to call the police. This was before cell phones. So I convinced him to go inside the store with me so that the security people could protect him and call the police. As I was explaining to the saleswoman what had happened and to hide the boy and call the police. The man came into the store. I pointed to him and said out loud “That’s him! Whatever you do don’t let him take the boy.” She hid the boy behind the counter and we waited and stared at the man who wouldn’t go away.

She said, “It’s OK. I won’t let him take the boy. I’m calling security. You don’t have to wait any longer”. I went home after a while trusting the saleswoman. I never found out if they arrested the man or how they found the boy’s mom. She should never have left him alone. I wish I had stayed to make sure the boy was safe. I would have liked to bash the man in the head for trying to take the boy.