The Delta House

So I had to run to the market last night to pick up some ice cream for the very-pregnant Mrs. Flounder. Though we had two pints of Ben & Jerry’s in the freezer, she was craving Bryer’s Chocolate Overload, and I have taken enough beating to know not to argue with a pregnant woman when it comes to food.

I pulled into the Stop & Shop parking lot around 8:30pm and looked for a good spot. There were only about 15 cars in the whole lot, so I easily found one about six spaces out, in line with the entrance. I noticed that the car next to me had its lights on, so, being the Good Samaritan that I am, I figured I would right down the model and tag number and tell the person at the courtesy desk. When I opened the door to my truck, I heard that not only were the lights on, but the engine was running. I looked inside the car and saw no adults present, but, you guessed it, there was a little girl sleeping, strapped into a car seat in the back.

I looked around, assuming that the child’s parent was talking to a friend in a running vehicle nearby and was diligently watching over their child, but there was no one in the passenger seat of that nearby car.

Now I’m no narc, but my first instinct was to call the police. On the news, I’ve seen way too many bad things happen to children whose parents actually watch out for them. Of course, my completely unreliable Nextel had no signal. Instead, I waited for the parent to return which would serve two purposes. First, I could watch out for the little girl myself. Second, I could berate the incompetent parent.

About four minutes after I first got out of my truck, a woman walked up to the driver’s door of the running car. Our exchange went like this:

Flounder: Excuse me, is this your car?

Dumb Ass Woman: Yeah, why?

F: Do you realize that you left your little girl in the car while you were in the store?

D.A.W: I was only in there a few minutes.

F: A few minutes are all it takes for something bad to happen.

D.A.W: Well, you obviously don’t have children, do you?

F: We’re expecting our first now, and I can assure you that they will never be left alone in a car at night while I go grocery shopping.

D.A.W: Well, I left the car running to keep her warm. And the door was locked.

F: Lady, I could have broken your driver’s window out in about three seconds and took your car and your kid. You would have been on the news tonight crying for her safe return. (As a vein in my temple began to throb.)

D.A.W: Oh, give me a break. You don’t understand how hard it is being a single parent. It would take more time for me to get her out of the car seat than the whole time that I was in the store.

F: But at least you would be sure that she was safe. If my cell phone had worked here, you’d be talking to a cop right now lady, and not me. Just be more careful, and be thankful that I pulled up next to your car tonight and not some psycho pedophile.

D.A.W: Don’t you tell me how to take care of my baby! (As she was shutting her car door.)

The little girl continued to sleep, blissfully unaware of what had just happened, and what could have happened. I took a minute and prayed for God’s protection over that child, and for her mother to get a clue. Man I hope I don't see her on the news.

// posted by flounder @ 8:59 AM