Absent on the Wrong Day

Who knew trying to walk home would turn out to be a scary night getting lost? I sure didn’t. This was three years ago in 2005. I was nine years old at the time.

My dad dropped me off at the usual place he dropped me off for football practice which was at Kings Field. I was wondering why I was so early because I was usually like the 10th person at the field. Then one of my friends saw me while his mom was driving him. His mom stopped to ask me what I was doing.

“I’m staying for practice,” I told her

“They changed fields though.”

At that moment I knew when I was absent the team had changed fields because of Daylight savings (they changed because Kings field didn’t have any lights but the baseball field in the back of the Boys and Girls club does). Big coincidence I thought.
Then I asked for a ride.

“Okay”, she said. Then she drove me all the way to the back of the Boys and Girls Club which is a baseball field. I told her, “Thanks for the ride.” There were many things racing through my mind like: How was I going to get home? Should I panic, or should I stay calm?

I did very well in football practice but towards the ends I got worse and worse, then finally I started to panic. Then finally practice ended. I started to panic even more. I start walking randomly, and after a few minutes I lose sight of the field. Then finally I feel so stupid. Why didn’t I ask the coach if I could borrow his phone? I was just shy I thought. It turned dark and I don’t know what to do. I start walking more. Then the coach’s car pulls right next to me.

“Get in the car” he says calmly

“Okay” I said back.

I got in his car and he drove me about 5 minutes to my dad. I felt really relieved when I reached my dad. When I reached my dad, I told him everything that happened from when he dropped me off to that moment. My dad told me how much he and mom were worried. After all he was just happy that I didn’t get lost forever.
Overall I learned my lesson, which was don’t be shy when your safety is a big matter.