When I was 19, I came home from my first year of college for summer break. I was living with my mom and brother for the brief departure from school, and I had the most annoying habit (According to my mother.) I liked to go walking,with my headphones on, for hours at a time,in and around our neighborhood. Unfortunately for all of my older siblings that worried about me, I liked to do this after dark. Don't get me wrong, our neighborhood was safe (This was about 7 years ago) But these days, how safe is anything? Many a night I would be walking 2 miles from home after midnight, when my mother (Housecoat,curlers and all) Would pull up beside me on the sidewalk and order me into the car. I guess I just liked the alone time. Anyway, we finally reached a compromise. I would walk shortly before sundown! ! (Around 7pm) And arrive home before 9. That was fine. Two days after we reached this agreement, My mother told me she was going grocery shopping, and invited me along. I said "Thanks, but it is already 6:45, I think I'll do my walking now." She agreed, but reminded me to be home before 9. Off I went.

The sun began to go down, and after awhile I was getting pretty tired. I had noticed the same white Sedan circling around me as I walked the various streets in and around my neighborhood, when I finally decided to offer directions to the driver the next time the car came around. He(Or she) was obviously lost. As I began walking down an alleyway (Before you think anything seedy, the alleyway split up a 7-11 and a ritzy theater..so It was safe. Or so I thought.) I saw lights coming up from behind. I took off my headphones and turned to see the White Sedan coming up behind me. I thought it odd, but had no fear..until it stopped directly behind me. With the darkness, and the lights s! ! hining in my face,

I could not make out who was in the car, or how many people there were. All of a sudden I heard my mother calling my name. Bright as day I heard it, and wasn't suprised..It was 9:15, and I wasn't home (My house was less than 300 feet away at the point.) The Sedan took off, peeling rubber. Puzzled and nervous I walked the rest of the way home, and went inside. No One was home..My brother was still at work and my mom's car wasn't there. Trying to piece it together, I just figured my mom went looking for me. She arrived home 20 minutes later, and I met her on the walk to apologize. She asked why I was sorry, and I told her I didn't mean to worry her. Laughing,she said that just because I was a stubborn 18 year old, she wasn't worried...she knew I'd turn out ok. When questioned later, she told me she never came home and called my name. She was just getting back from grocery shopping (Bad construction in our area, and the market is 15 miles away.) But whoever cal! ! led my name that night saved my life. I am sure of it.