[ wp ] A person loses their friend 's child while on a day out in the city .


 I glance from my computer to Aaron who is texting away bored stiff. I try to focus on my work but feel bad for being so boring; it is his summer vacation and he probably hates every minute of this. My cell phone rings and we both jump a little. I pick it up once I see that it ’ s his dad calling. We have been friends since childhood and I offered to babysit so that he wouldn ’ t get in trouble for bringing Aaron to work again. The problem is that Charlie and Aaron have the same sense of humor and so they spend all day goofing off when together. 
 
 Charlie worries about leaving Aaron home alone because he ’ s already taken spontaneous day trips by himself and because of his medical conditions. Aaron isn ’ t a sickly person but he does have asthma and tons of allergies. Considering that I ’ ve known Charlie for so long, I figured that I ’ ll already be prepared for whatever he has in store for the day. 
 
 Charlie thanks me again for watching Aaron and then asks about his behavior. I look at Aaron who is staring at me wide eyed and I say that ’ s being perfect. Charlie laughs and asks to speak to his son. I hand over the phone and I can hear Charlie lecturing Aaron to keep behaving or else. Aaron promises his father and then gives me back the phone. 
 
 I put the phone down on my desk and look at Aaron, “ Hey are you hungry? ” 
 
 He nods and asks, “ Can we go get city pretzels? ” 
 
 I smile and nod grabbing my purse; maybe there was still hope for our day. I watch as we cross streets to make sure that he doesn ’ t get any ideas and runaway but he stays by my side. As we wait for our pretzels, I notice just how much like his father he looks and shutter. His dad wasn ’ t exactly the pinnacle of good behavior either. 
 
 “ You cut your hair? ” I ask trying to make small talk. 
 
 He nods, “ Dad made me. ” 
 
 I laugh thinking back to the last time that I saw him; his hair was practically shoulder length and now it was neatly buzzed. 
 
 “ You look a lot like your dad, ” I compliment trying to get on his good side. 
 
 He rolls his eyes; apparently although they got along pretty well, he still didn ’ t want to look like his father. 
 
 The pretzel man gives me our pretzels and so I pay him and then I lead Aaron to a bench to sit down. 
 
 Aaron stares at the nearby carousel while eating his pretzel and I wonder what I can do to make this day not a complete failure. 
 
 He begins to go into a coughing fit and I rummage through my purse and pull out his inhaler. He rejects it initially but when the coughing continues he grabs it. 
 
 “ Can I go to the bathroom? ” he asks covering his mouth with one hand and holding his inhaler in the other. 
 
 My mind races and I look to the bathrooms; was it safe? 
 
 He begins to wheeze and says, “ Please? ” 
 
 I nod and reply, “ Hurry back. ” 
 
 He shuffles off to the bathroom quickly and I sit on the bench patiently hoping his inhaler will help. After fifteen minutes, I get up from the bench and begin to slowly walk to the bathroom. I wait outside the bathroom for another five minutes before texting his cellphone. A thought comes to mind and my heart begins to race as I circle around the little building. My heart drops in my chest when I see the backdoor and call Aaron ’ s cellphone. Getting his voicemail, I tell him that I promise I won ’ t tell his father as long as he heads right back. 
 
 I look in all directions wondering what to do. I absolutely couldn ’ t call Charlie yet, I could tell a local cop but knowing Aaron, he would probably run if a cop tried to approach him. I head to the carousel praying that he ’ ll be watching it patiently and we ’ ll be able to move on with our day. I circle the carousel three times before drawing the conclusion that he abandoned me. 
 
 I walk slowly through the park wondering whether I should head back to the bench or keep searching on foot. I think back to all the stories Charlie used to share about his own escapes and regret laughing at any one of them; Aaron could be hurt or lost and I would have no idea. 
 
 I take a deep breath and check my phone for any calls or texts. I sigh and dial his father ’ s number disappointedly trying to think of what to say to him. 
 
 “ Hello! What has my kid gone haywire by now? ” he greets jokingly. 
 
 I cough and break down in tears, “ I ’ m so sorry Charlie! ” 
 
 I hear worry in his voice, “ What happened? Is everything okay? ” 
 
 I reply, “ Aaron and I went to go get pretzels and then he had an asthma attack and went to the bathroom. Now he ran off somewhere and I have no idea what to do! I called his cell phone three times and he won ’ t answer. ” 
 
 Charlie takes a deep breath and says, “ I ’ ll try calling him? Where are you? The park? I ’ ll meet you there in ten minutes. ” 
 
 I bury my face in my hands until Charlie arrives and I think of all the horrible things I ’ ve done in my life and how this tops everything. After fifteen minutes, I suddenly feel a hand on my shoulder and look up to see Charlie who is obviously worried but also seems to have some sympathy in his eyes. 
 
 He tells me that it ’ s going to be okay and I ask, “ Charlie, where would you go if you were a kid here? ” 
 
 He shrugs and looks around, “ Maybe the carousel. ” 
 
 I shake my head, “ I already looked there. ” 
 
 He sighs, “ Let ’ s check again, he may have been hiding. ” 
 
 I follow Charlie and my phone ’ s text alert sounds. 
 
 It ’ s from Aaron: You called my dad?!?!?! 
 
 I pull Charlie ’ s shirt frantically and text back: WHERE ARE YOU? 
 
 Charlie grabs my phone and takes a deep breath, “ He ’ s just screwing with you. He ’ s fine but he ’ s stalking you. ” 
 
 I roll my eyes wondering what type of kid thinks that faking being kidnapped is funny and look at Charlie who is abnormally calm. 
 
 “ Don ’ t you care? He ’ s still hiding? ” I ask frantically. 
 
 He smiles and shrugs, “ Everything is fine. We ’ ll find him. ” 
 
 Charlie texts Aaron from my phone: Dad is worried about you. 
 
 I look at Charlie, “ Will that really work? ” 
 
 He nods, “ He ’ s not a bad kid; he just likes messing with people. ” 
 
 Aaron texts back: Meet at carousel. 
 
 By the time, Charlie and I get there Aaron is sitting on a bench right in front of it. 
 
 I burst into tears as soon as I see his face safe and sound and Charlie laughs hugging Aaron. 
 
 Charlie says, “ I told you he was fine. Aaron, this isn ’ t funny. Look how upset she is now. ” 
 
 Aaron looks at me awkwardly and then apologizes, “ I ’ m sorry for worrying you. ” 
 
 I look at Charlie infuriated; Aaron wasn ’ t genuinely sorry for running away at all. 
 
 I take a deep breath and say, “ It ’ s alright; I ’ m glad you ’ re fine. ” 
 
 Charlie chuckles, “ You ’ re such a push-over. Aaron, you better find a good way to make this up to her. ” 
 
 Aaron nods quietly sensing my anger and Charlie says he ’ ll take Aaron home for the day. I head back to work and claim that I got sick on my lunch break and need to go home early. On my doorstep is a basket full of candy and sugary treats with a note. 
 
 It reads, “ I ’ m sorry for everything that happened today. Thanks for dealing with me. –Aaron ” 
 
 I take the basket inside and rest for a while munching on the treats, after a while, I log onto Facebook. I see that Charlie sent me a link and I am redirected to Aaron ’ s page. I see a few pictures of my work cubicle, our pretzels, and the carousel at the park. The time stamps on all of the posts are scattered throughout the day. I see that he posted a new profile picture earlier and click it; His smile seems genuinely happy. His status is, “ There ’ s nothing better than spending a day in the city eating pretzels. ” I smile and close the page; maybe today wasn ’ t too bad after all. 

