(I work in the parking lot, helping customers load their vehicles and push carts back to where they belong. I am the only one out on the lot at the moment. A boy runs out into the lot next to me, into the middle of the road.)
Boy: “Die bug!”
(I see something moving out of the corner of my eye. When I look, there’s a car driving very fast through the lot. It is heading straight for the boy.)
Me: “Oh, crap!”
(I run into the road, pick up the child, and dive out of the way. I use my body as a cushion for him. My back hits a rack of plants, knocking them over, and sending pain through my back. The boy’s mother comes rushing over.)
Boy’s Mother: “Oh, my God! WHAT THE H*** ARE YOU DOING WITH MY CHILD!?”
Me: “First of all, I’m okay, and so is he. Second of all, he just about got ran over.”
(I painfully stand up, and let the child go to his mother, who clings to her.)
Boy’s Mother: “I want to see your manager now!”
Me: “Certainly, ma’am.”
(I go and find my manager, and explain to her what happened. The manager understands and goes to the service desk where the boy and his mother now wait. I follow behind and listen in.)
Manager: “So, I hear you have a problem with one of my employees?”
Boy’s Mother: “You’re d*** right I do! He tried to steal my baby!”
Manager: “I assure you that’s not what happened. From what my employee has told me, he saw the child run into the street, chasing a bug. He noticed a car driving at unsafe speeds through the parking lot at the child.”
Boy’s Mother: “That’s what he wants you to think!! I saw no car!”
Manager: “What happened when you noticed my employee with your child?”
Boy’s Mother: “He knocked over the plant racks out front with his back!”
Manager: “And he did this while holding your child?”
Boy’s Mother: “YES! You get it!”
Manager: “Not quite. Follow me with this please. Why would my employee do that when he has the most chance of getting caught? It would draw a lot of attention to himself.”
Boy’s Mother: “He… he was… I don’t know.”
Manager: “The only reason I could think of him doing that is if he had to get out of the way of something fast. Or, if your child was in danger of being hit by a car going 40 miles per hour through the parking lot.”
Boy’s Mother: “Well maybe you should control the cars speeding through your lot more! Hmph!”
(She takes her son and walks out in a huff. Later on, at the end of my shift, the mother and her son approach me on the way out.)
Boy’s Mother: “There you are! I’ve been looking for you!”
Me: “Ma’am, I promise you; I wasn’t trying to kidnap your child!”
Boy’s Mother: “I know that. But my son has something to say to you.”
Boy: “Thank you for saving my life.”
(He hands me a thank you card.)
Me: “No problem, little man. Promise me something?”
Boy: “Okay?”
Me: “Don’t go playing in the street. When you go somewhere, stay next to your mom. That’s the safest place you can be. Can you do that?”
Boy: “I promise!”
Boy’s Mother: “Thank you again. I can’t thank you enough. I also came back to talk to your manager. Are you on lunch?”
Me: “I’m off work now, actually.”
Boy’s Mother: “Good, then I can make it a surprise!”
(The mother walks into the store. I wonder what she means, but I figure I’ll find out the next day, and go home. The next day, I open up the store, and find out from my manager that someone gave me a glowing review of my work ethics!)
