I posted this on FB, so we're friends, you might've seen it.
I got home around 5:00 and while I was bringing the groceries in, a kid on a bike yelled, "Excuse me!" to me. I turned around and he asked to use my cell phone. I asked why and he explained that he rode his bike to his friend's house and when no one was home, he got lost trying to find his way back home. I asked where he lives and it's about 3 miles or so from my house. I gave him my phone to call his dad and then talked to his dad to explain where my street is. Then, before getting off the phone, the dad says that he's in a city about 40 minutes away. Great. It's cold outside and I didn't want to stand out there for that long with the kid, but I wasn't totally comfortable bringing him into my house.
So, I stayed out there with him until about 5:50 when his dad showed up. We chatted about all kinds of stuff and I practically know the kid's whole life story. lol Boy was he lucky he stumbled upon a teacher who talks with 11 year olds all day.
Re: Strange night
Apparently, he lives with mom and she knew he was leaving on his bike to go to his friend's house. He doesn't have a cell phone anymore, so she knew he wouldn't be able to get in touch with her on his way there or back, so I don't understand why he was allowed to go. Apparently he left his house around 3:30, so it was still light out, but clearly it was going to be dark by the time he got home. Maybe his mom didn't know he was going that far, I don't know, but I was pretty upset with his mom for not knowing where he was. At the same time, though, when he used my phone, he called dad, so who knows what mom's like. She was a 5-10 minute car ride away at home, but we waited 45 minutes for dad, so maybe she doesn't drive, or maybe she's just an idiot who he doesn't trust. I don't know. The whole situation was pretty crazy.