I was roaming around the aisles in Kohl’s in North Carolina during summer break. My mom’s sister was busy looking for curtains to buy. My cousin was sitting on the ground, glued to his 3DS, bored as I was. I wandered through the store, wondering what would capture my attention. As I walked into an aisle, there was a man who seemed to be in his late 50s. He was wearing a beige coat and wore a hat that covered up most of his face. I decided to ignore him and continue gazing at the different items. It was odd because it was 95 degrees out, and here he was with a coat and a winter hat. When he saw me, he waved, so I waved back. He motioned me to come closer, as he spoke to me in a low and quiet voice. I, forgetting what my mom used to tell me about strangers, decided to step closer. As I began to walk, there was a strange scent that would get stronger and stronger. The more I inhaled, the more I felt dizzy. Before I got any closer, my cousin called my name. “Isha look, I got first place in Mario Kart!!” I turned around, facing away from the sketchy man, and walked toward the direction where my cousin was sitting. I looked back to see if the man was still there, but he was gone. Afterwards, I acted as if everything was normal and forgot that even happened. Now, I think back worrying about what would have happened if my cousin didn’t yell my name or if I continued to listen to the man. Where would I be, how my life would’ve changed were the questions that were engraved into my head. One decision, and my life would change drastically.
Child abduction and kidnapping are still current issues that are going on today. Child abductions affect about 100 to 150 children per year. It is one of the worst nightmares a parent could ever have. Children seem to be more confused and innocent about the environment or their surroundings. It’s extremely important for parents to teach kids not only not to talk to strangers, but to remember the important information in case of emergencies. Knowing their parents’ address, phone number, and area code could make a big difference. The fact that this happens to teenagers and adults alike is horrifying. One can easily be persuaded into thinking that a stranger is someone that can be trusted.
My old school friend had a similar experience. She was walking home from school when she saw a black Mercedes approaching her. The stranger in the car was saying how he knew her mom and would like to give her a ride home. She kept refusing but he kept asking. Soon enough, he drove away. There are still disgusting people out there that won’t hesitate to ruin one’s life by taking them away from their families. Though one may be convinced or persuaded that a person can be trusted, they have to be extremely careful. I had no idea what was going to come for me when I continued to walk closer to the man when he gestured to me to come where he was. Please be careful of who you encounter. Whether it is when you’re walking to your car from work or if someone is offering a ride, it is extremely crucial for you to take precautions to prevent abductions or kidnappings. Though the phrase, “never take candy from a stranger” is commonly used throughout everyone’s childhood, it’s still important, as it can still prevent an innocent person from being taken away from their home and their family. To this day, little does my cousin know that he saved my life.
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