a detour home from school

Driving my son home from school I felt suddenly pulled to look back over my shoulder and to my right in the trees off the side off the side of the road. There was a young boy standing there, shivering, back in the trees. I turned around and pulled over. It was pouring rain and this boy was standing in the trees crying. I asked my son to come with me so it would put the boy more at ease and we walked through the grass, over to the trees and to the boy.

“Hi there. Sure is raining hard. This is my son Chad. I bet you don’t usually stand out in the rain. Can Chad help you get back to your daycare or house with an adult?”

The boy’s crying slowed and he shared his name. He was no more than 6 years old and had gone home accidentally instead of day care and was locked out of his house. We found out the name of his daycare which was actually not that far from where we were. We decided to walk there, even though it was pouring, so the boy wouldn’t have to get in our car…not a good idea with a stranger. We walked him inside and found his teacher who knew him. He smiled, turned to go change out of wet clothes and go play.

I know my sixth sense drew me to that boy when I wouldn’t normally look there. It was nice sharing that experience with Chad. He has such a calm way about him and put the boy right at ease.