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Got a call from a father who lived in a well-to-do section of St. Claire late last night. He said his daughter was missing from her room and her window was cracked open. He was afraid she'd been abducted. I drove over straight away, asked to search her computer, and found that she'd been chatting with a guy in the 8th grade (she's in 7th)--at they were planning a little romantic rendezvous after their parents theoretically had gone to bed and they wouldn't be caught. The meeting point was at an iHop about a mile away, and we managed to get there while they were still eating.The dad blew up at her and dragged her home to have "The Talk" with her--because he hadn't before because he didn't think she was ready. (Trust me, I saw the e-mails, she might not have been ready but she was certainly willing to learn the hard way.)
It took me all of 45 minutes (including the car trip) to track the "lost" girl down. In settling the bill, I told the dad I was only charging him for the one day ($400 and no expenses) instead of the 2-day ($800) minimum. He seemed pretty grateful to get 50% off his bill--and get his daughter back with her virginity still intact.
It occurs to me that I ought to consider getting in touch with some family/trauma counselors in the area that are good at their job. That way I can recommend people for counseling if I think they might need or want it. It might help to resolve people's ongoing problems, too.
Wow, this is so much less soul-sucking than working the homicide beat where there are NEVER happy endings.
It took me all of 45 minutes (including the car trip) to track the "lost" girl down. In settling the bill, I told the dad I was only charging him for the one day ($400 and no expenses) instead of the 2-day ($800) minimum. He seemed pretty grateful to get 50% off his bill--and get his daughter back with her virginity still intact.
It occurs to me that I ought to consider getting in touch with some family/trauma counselors in the area that are good at their job. That way I can recommend people for counseling if I think they might need or want it. It might help to resolve people's ongoing problems, too.
Wow, this is so much less soul-sucking than working the homicide beat where there are NEVER happy endings.
