Have you ever felt you should take responsibility for something, be a good samaritan, and your efforts ignored? Not only do law enforcement officers bug me because of their driving habits, now the office personel are on that list.
Sara Ellen and I took a walk this afternoon and ended up at our community beach. We headed home when I needed the restroom, as I keep reminding Sara Ellen, I don’t wear a diaper. Key School was letting out and other school buses were making stops. I saw three young kids get off a bus and walked behind them for a while. They were pretty far ahead of me and seemed to be holding hands with the oldest one trying to keep them together, I’m talking 7 - 10 years old here. They stopped at a house, went to the mail box and as I was passing, were trying to get into the house. The younger girl said hello and I stayed to ask if they were ok. They didn’t have a key “because [they] could lose it” and the parent or grandparent wasn’t home, but “should be home in a minute.” They assured me they’d be ok but I decided to myself I’d call to have them checked on when I got home. If I didn’t need to get in my own house, I might have stayed.
Sara Ellen fell asleep and after completing my initial objective, I called the Annapolis police. That was wrong because I live outside city jurisdiction, in the Anne Arundel Co area. The phone was answered but no one was talking to me, and when I stated my cause and the kids address I was gruffly given the AACo police number. I called and spoke to an officer who seemed tired with me when I was trying to be responsible about children’s safety! I wanted someone to call them at home or stop by to check but he didn’t have any phone listing - these are the police! I gave their age estimate and said they had no key but expected a guardian soon and he said, “well, it’s not that cold outside”!! What?? Three kids, under 10, alone, who cannot get into their house. This is not “Home Alone” where Kevin McAllister is safely inside his well stocked house. The officers in that movie gave Mrs. McAllister the same attitude. I gave the officer the address again, and my name and number and he promised to send an officer by to check. He asked if I want to see the officer too but I declined.
I know it’s common for kids to come home to an empty house, but they couldn’t get in. Tell me you understand!