No, folks not the tv show. The reality show LOST: AUDREY. Hopefully this was the only episode and the season ended.
We were at our hotel by Disneyland, and waiting for the extremely crowded elevators. I think we got there when it was check-in time, because everyone and their entire extended family--luggage included--were all waiting for the elevators as well.
But let me digress and correct something: I wrote elevatorS plural when I should've written elevatoR singular. Only ONE of the FOUR were in working order. Outrageous.
Well, Ethan and Audrey were in the stroller and the big kids were in front of us, ready to push and elbow their way into the elevator when one opened up. (That was me who was gonna make them do the dirty work) I turned around and told Audrey something about not letting her blanket drag on the ground, and that was the last time I saw her until 19 minutes later.
Once the bell dinged, we crammed our way on like a New York subway and we rode up to our 8th floor room, stopping at several floors to let people off. We got out and halfway down the hall, Christopher says, "WHERE'S AUDREY??!?!?" I thought he was joking until I saw his face as white as a sheet. He tore down 8 flights of stairs thinking maybe she was at the bottom and had never gotten on.
The scariest part was that we didn't know at what point we had lost her. None of us ever saw her get out of the stroller. None of us saw if someone took her out of the stroller.
I waited at the 8th floor elevator, pressing the call button so the doors would open at our floor every time. What the guests saw when the doors opened was a sobbing, panic-stricken mother screaming "HAVE YOU SEEN MY BABY?? WE LOST OUR BABY!!" People said no, and quietly let the doors shut.
I'll fast forward to the end.
It turns out that Audrey was downstairs, outside, in the circular drop-off area playing with a child from another family. The father had just gotten up to go inside to find the parent of this awfully friendly, mysterious toddler when he ran (literally) into Christopher.
For any of you who have lost or almost lost your kids, you don't know whether to spank them or hug them tight. I know which one Christopher chose.
When the doors opened on the 8th floor one more time, I saw father and child embracing. Father sobbing, child just saying, "I'm sorry Daddy" over and over.
2 comments:
I must say, I don't like the tv show and I certainly did NOT like the "reality" version any better. Even though I am not a mother, I have been in those shoes before and that story brought tears to my eyes. All that is left to say is thank GOD you were able to find her. God Bless you guys on your trip!!!! Thank you Jesus!!!!
Wow Jill! I know that panic feeling when you realize you don't know where your child is. And to go through that for 19 minutes must have been horrible. The last paragraph especially brought a tear to my eye, I could just visualize the relief you felt along with various emotions to see Christopher hugging her. Thanks to the Lord that he protected her and she was with a nice family.
Post a Comment