I Feel An Andrew Story Bubbling To The Surface

Go Back Twenty Years With Me...
Andrew is 3 years old.
We are living in Royal Palm Beach.
Our Backyard is waterfront to a canal system (loved that backyard)
Andrew and I are the only ones home
I am working in the kitchen
The house gets very quiet
I do not see Andrew playing in the Family Room
I call out for Andrew....
No answer
I call again...
No answer.
I go room to room looking for Andrew and calling his name
No answer.
I go outside (but note the doors are all locked)
I call for Andrew
No answer
I check at a neighbor's houses (I had lame neighbors on every side and more!)
No Andrew
I PANIC-I CALL THE POLICE-I CONTINUE TO SEARCH
The tears are welling up, my heart is beating, and NO sign of Andrew
The police arrive. Some start searching. Some start questioning me.
NO SIGN OF ANDREW
A Police Dog arrives.
They want an article of Andrew's Clothing
My head is spinning, I am about ready to pass out.
The Police call for their Boat to go out on the water in our Backyard
I LOST IT
I came in the house to call Ron (yes I waited this long...no cell phones or cordless phones at this time, I was outside and running around searching-not thinking about stopping for one minute. This coupled with the lame neighbors I was surrounded by made for ME feeling like I was on an Island totally alone)
I HEAR A KNOCK ON THE WALL IN MY BEDROOM.
It was coming from the CLOSET where I had searched more than once already.
I HEAR THE KNOCK AGAIN!
I follow the sound to ANDREW. Fluffy, Blonde-haired ANDREW!
I was so relieved, I could not be angry! I cried and cried and cried.
He was at the back of the closet perfectly positioned behind a framed painting that looked like it was leaning right on the wall.
He had chewed every piece of gum from my purse.
He knew that was NOT ALLOWED.
HE HID IN HOPES OF NOT GETTING CAUGHT
There he was....SURROUNDED BY GUM WRAPPERS!!!!!
And there I was...too thankful and relieved to be angry or upset.

This is why today...

when the Colorado boy was found hiding in a box

rather than in the hot air balloon...

I understood completely how these things can happen.

And I am aggravated with the Media when they are harsh on his

parents or dish out their thoughts on an adequate "punishment"

for this boy, etc.

Obviously, there is a lesson to learn...a teaching moment for the

Parents and an opportunity to discipline,

however....

It is so easy to judge when you are on the outside looking in.

PS-I am still on the outside looking in...but this story is sounding fishier by the minute. I'm just saying...two and two are not adding up to four and I am certainly smelling fish.