Pay Backs

A few days ago we lost the littlest Partridge. I was dutifully helping Mason finish his homework then fixed him a snack and sent him on his way so I could start prepping for dinner. Adelin came down a little while latter asking if she too could have a snack. Happily I obliged suggesting that she share some with her baby brother, Everett. She retorted that Everett was not upstairs. Thinking she was mistaken or at least he was in Mason's room playing I took my time to go look for him. Well, he was not in the loft nor in Mason's room. I check the bedrooms calling his name and still nothing. Fear struck as I imagined him in the hot garage passed out. Nope not there either. The car was empty too. Backyard? Check. Now by this time my calls have risen from code green, soft voice, to code red, psycho mom screech. I was in the back yard at the time that I realized the kid was really missing. I called Stephen and maybe it was the tone of my voice when I spoke the words "Everett is missing" because he did not badger me for details he just said "I am on my way."

I walked back into the house calling for the kids commando style. "Kids get down here we have to go find Everett!" Mason thought it was exciting while Adelin was still thinking about missing her TV show. We started down the street and came upon a college age kid who asked "Are you looking for a little boy?" My heart dropped. I just started running toward the house he was pointing to. When the door opened there was little Everett happy as could be. Apparently he saw their little dog while he was out on his walk and followed him home. The two girls and young man found Everett in their backyard banging on the sliding glass door. She was a bit leery about letting him go with me because as she put it "he seems really comfortable with strangers." Yes that would all three of my children. Scary, I know. Then she asked where I live in case it happens again. The words could not come to my mind. I am was such a basket case. I reassured her explaining to her that my husband is a cop. He will be here any minute. Since they called the police I knew they would have to come out and check on the situation so I wanted Stephen there. The occupants of the home were renters, Students at the University here in town. They were so taken by his cuteness they offered their services if I ever need a babysitter.

After I got the screaming Everett home, we live right down the same street, I bolted all the doors and the back gate. Dinner was later that night.

As I thought about the situation later that evening I had two thoughts. One how blessed we were that Everett was safe and we got him back. We came to the conclusion that he had been gone at least 30 minutes. That possibly after Stephen left for work Adelin opened the front door to appease the crying Everett who wanted his daddy. My friends found it amazing that the dog was there and lead him to that house. Divine intervention. The house belongs to three university students who just a week before had a party that ended with a fight and the arrival of the police. Because they are university students Stephen had to take the case and he was not happy. So it was interesting that the rescuers happened to be the very people he was complaining about the day before.

The other thought I had was about the day before when Mason refused to do his chores and homework. He asked why and I explained that we are all a team, as I always do, so we work together. He was not buying it. The conversation led to him not wanting to be part of the family. Trying to be cleaver by using reverse psychology I said well I guess you will be leaving then do you want me to help you pack your bag. (Some bad advice I got from someone once) He started crying saying he does not know how to tell if someone is good or bad. Would I help him find a good place to live. Yeah that backfired royally. I told him we did not want him to leave. We love him. Please stay. He would still have to do chores and his homework. After some snuggles and kisses we got the work done together.