Well that was different...

[Elfe5]

Off I went for another “building up my knee post injury” gentle trot...

.. I was minding my own business when I heard a child crying over my music. I was near a playground so I thought “Oh dear, someone has fallen over” & assumed parents would swoop to the rescue. A bit later I realised the crying was still going on & not fading into the distance. Looked over my shoulder to discover a tearful child running along behind me like a frantic duckling with”Anyone’s Mum will do!” written all over him. -Evidently, even in my scruffy running gear, I have “helpful mum & teacher” written all over me!

Poor mite - older step brother had run off & abandoned him, his phone was out of juice, he didn’t know dad’s address or phone number ( he was visiting) - or perhaps thought he shouldn’t tell me, which is fair enough. His only piece of knowledge was a pub near dad’s house - which was a long way off in the wrong direction - much too far for me to take him in the available time. The inevitable phone call to the police went ahead. Some 20 mins later, step brother returns sheepishly, talks to police on my phone- his main concern “You aren’t going to send the police to my house are you?” - I hope they phoned & snitched! What a rotter!

I resumed my gentle trot! Ah well, that’s one I’ll remember as “The duckling run”! 😀

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

Omg! Poor little thing! What a mean brother!

[Elfe5 60minGraduate in reply to Tasha99]

Yes he was, - he defensively said he was “teaching him a lesson” for being irritating. The younger brother’s crime was to ask to go home!!

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Elfe5]

😂 bless him

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Well done for looking after him Elfe.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Sounds like you were needed Elfe, and it was worth sacrificing your run to help out. You are very kind and will run another day.😊x

[Elfe5 60minGraduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

I certainly will! 😀

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

Oh wow! Good for you for taking the time to help this poor little guy! He must've been so scared. You’re a wonderful, caring person. The older stepbrother, on the other hand....I cannot put my thought into forum-appropriate words 🤬

[Elfe5 60minGraduate in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Well I just did what any responsible adult would do. I was horrified by his lack of knowledge about address & phone numbers- I think he genuinely didn’t know them because he couldn’t tell the police either. 😨 Elder brother - what a ratbag.

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Elfe5]

I would hope any adult or older teenager would help a young child in need, but i’ve become jaded. It is nice to see humanity at its best.

We went over our address and phone number with our child so much but also grilled in to him not to talk to strangers. I’m glad that this little guy did though and that his negligent older brother returned. I hope there were consequences when they returned home! Hopefully the police followed through with the parents. If it, let’s hope the older brother learned a lesson.... maybe, maybe not

[Hidden]

Poor little chap, thank goodness for you. Don't be too hard on the brother: it's difficult being made responsible for a younger sibling, and who knows how they're treated at home so he may have had good reason to be scared of the police turning up.

[Elfe5 60minGraduate]

Yes, I know what you mean, but I spent time listening to both lads - it looked like older streetwise bully with younger,( & very young for his age), not very bright younger one who was visiting from a town 15miles away. - The older one made no attempt to conceal his unkindness from me. The thing that really horrified me was little ‘uns lack of knowledge of any phone numbers or addresses. I thought he might not want to tell me as a stranger, but he couldn’t tell the police either.

[Lizzisforliving Graduate10]

Well done, Elfe5. What a horrible experience for the little one! I'm glad you could help him and show him that there are kind people in the world. Please let us know if you ever see him or hear from him again. Sounds like he needs a friendly adult in his life.

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Lizzisforliving]

Year old post

[Lizzisforliving Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

Oops! It was on top when I opened the app earlier. Apologies x

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Lizzisforliving]

No need to apologise!