To this day I don’t ignore warning bells in the back of my head. If I suspect wrong-doing, I say something. Please don’t be afraid to say something if you see or suspect something wrong. Please.
Incarcerated: 22 years
My girlfriend stayed in the car while I went into the 7-11. I needed some smokes. As I came out, I was confronted by a very large man, over six feet and over 320 pounds. He asked me for directions to Fiesta Village Amusement Park. He was very polite and well-spoken, “Sure, go that way for about half a mile, it’ll be on your right.” “Thanks,” he said, “I’m just looking to entertain the kid for a while…” I glanced at his Oregon-plated Mustang II, parked next to my Camaro; in the passenger seat was the most delightful looking princess ever; big dark eyes with long super-curly hair… maybe eight or nine years old at the most. I’ll never forget that he used the word ‘the kid.’ I ignored the bells going off in the back of my head. He went into the 7-11 and I got back in my car. “Honey,” my girlfriend said, “look at that little girl.” I glanced over and locked eyes with Princess. She held my gaze way longer than a normal child would. “She looks nothing like her daddy.” I glanced back at Princess… in her $10000 dress. Princess continued holding my gaze. Another bell in the back of my head went ignored. I started my Chevy and said, “Not our business.” I saw that little Princess about a year later, below the words, “Have you seen me?” were those dark eyes and curly locks. She was on a carton of milk, where they put pictures of kids that are kidnapped. The milk carton described the man – 6’2”, 340 pounds, driving a smaller car with out-of-state plates. It was them. IT WAS PRINCESS. Not reporting him was the worst thing I ever did. To this day, I don’t know if she ever got back to her family. To this day, Princess’s dark, pleading eyes haunt me. To this day, I don’t ignore warning bells in the back of my head. To this day, if I suspect wrong-doing, I say something. Please don’t be afraid to say something if you see or suspect something wrong. Please.
Hi Daniel. Very poignant story! Good for others to know and think about also.
I often kick myself now for things I said or withheld years ago. It takes courage and confidence to speak up when a situation rings bells — especially something like what you experienced, with a huge person you didn’t know anything about.
At least it was a strong lesson for you for any future “ringing bells” situations.