Run, Run, Run, Run, Runaway . . .

Oh blog fates. I dared tempt you. I said I was bored with blogging and you gave me something to blog about. Thanks, but I would've rather been bored. . .

Tonight I was tired. I have been craving a local mexican restaurant and I knew that tomorrow, being Cinco de Mayo, it would be busy so we went tonight. Afterward, Robert asked if I wanted to walk around KMart. We only have 2 in town and we NEVER go there, so I thought I would see if there was something for my mom for Mother's Day. I did, but I didn't get to buy it and I am not going back! I bet you can guess why. . .

McCartney and I were in the shoes and Robert came down and said, "Dustin is gone."

They were in the sporting goods and he asked for a fishing pole. Robert said, "No, we have some in the basement" and he took off. I had a bad feeling. I walked down the main isles and towards the garden shop. He had not gone out that way yet according to the guy working out there. I explained that I had a special needs son and he had run away from us. I asked if he went out this door that he stop him. He said he would.

I saw him toward the front in the towel section. He took off. Where do you think he ran. That's right, straight to the garden shop. I was not too far behind, but I didn't see the guy working pass the door. He was in the back so he didn't get in between him and the gate in time. Off he went. I tried to catch him but let's face it, I am asthmatic and fat. There was no chance. The worker took off and chased him, but it was too late. He ran into the parking lot almost stopping my heart and then across the front of the store. The guy said he passed the front door and toward a run down, crappy, scary hotel that is next door to the store, separated by a strip club. Nice neighborhood.

I freaked out. He was gone! I called the police.

Here's where I should mention that an old friend of mine does security for KMart. My husband called my from inside the store and said Chris was working and was checking the video to see if he had come back inside. Shortly thereafter Robert called from the back and said that the men's bathroom was locked and no one was answering. Chris got the key and low-and-behold Dustin was inside. I lost it. He was smashed up by the toilet and was hollering that he wanted to go to jail or the hospital or anywhere other than home. Nice. So here I am sweaty, crying (not a pretty crier!), red faced and panicked, AND on the men's bathroom's floor of the local KMart with my 14 year old son and a man I have been friends with for 22 years. It was definitely and odd scene.

I called the police to cancel the 911 call. A short time later I get a call from 911 communications saying that the police do not want to leave without speaking to us. Great.

We get him off the floor and to the front door. The officer was waiting for us and Dustin was freaking out. He looked familiar to me but we have had a parade of about 30 officers in and out of our life in the last year and a half since this running business has started. He said he was the officer that found him in the abandoned house last spring. He gave Dustin a "talking to" about this and sent us on his way.

When we got home, he gave me a poem and an art project for Mother's Day. Could that have been tonight's trigger? Who knows.