Lost

     It was late summer or early fall in 1981 when my grandparents, my mom, my sister, my brother and I went to the Fashion Square Mall in Saginaw for shopping.  I was half way through my 4th year of life.  We spilt off into group and I happily went with my grandpa.  Teaming up with my grandpa was always a smart idea when you were a little.  He would often sneak you treats or buy you toys. 

     I remember my grandpa and I walking into the CVS pharmacy.  At that age everything I looked at seemed amazing.  He was checking out.  Behind him was a display of the newest hot wheel cars in a thick plastic case, with neat vertical rows that displayed the shiny, and most colorful design of cars I had ever seen  I was somewhat of a tomboy growing up.  I enjoyed playing with cars and wrestling.  Trying on clothes and wearing jewelry were for girly girls and I was not for it.  I called out to my grandpa to show him all the wonderful cars I wanted.  He turned and agreed they were neat.  That was not the reaction I was hoping for.  I wanted him to buy them for me. 

     "Grandpa, I want this one, " I would point to a particular car, "....and this one....and that one...Ooooh, I would like this one too."  Suddenly it seemed strangely silent for a moment, "Grandpa, are you paying attention to me?"  I turned around.  To my horror my grandpa was gone.  I stood there and looked around.  A bad feeling arose in me.  "Grandpa?"  I called out again.  Nothing. 

     I froze for a moment not knowing what to do.  Could he have went further back into the store for something he needed?  Did he leave the store and go somewhere else?  What do I do?  I looked at all the people entering and leaving the store.  I suddenly realized how big the mall is.  I couldn't just stand there all day. 

     I finally managed to take a step.  I decided to quickly go up and down every aisle to see if I could locate my grandpa.  I ran down each aisle calling out his name.  Nothing.  I made my way to the entrance of the store.  I looked out to the middle area of the mall.  Hundreds of people walked past and none of them looked familiar.  Slowly I made my way out to the middle of the mall.



The layout of the Fashion Square Mall where I was lost at.
In the 1980's Macy's was Hudson's and the food court wasn't there.
I sat in front of one of the box stores debating which store to enter.
 

     I could see the fountain flowing in the middle.  It made a wonderful sound.  I walked towards it.  There was a ledge that surrounded it.  I stood up on it and walked along the ledge being careful to keep my balance.  I sat back down on the ledge and splashed the cool water for a moment.  I was hoping my grandpa or someone would find me.  No one did.  I looked around again and decided I would have to go through every store and see if I can find my grandpa or anyone else from my family. 

The texture of the seats
reminded me of this snack.

     I made my way towards one of the ends of the mall.  In the middle of the aisles sporadically spaced out where brown bumpy circular seats with trees growing out of the middle of them.  The texture reminded me of  the Star Cruncher snack you would buy at the store.  I climbed myself up on the seat, stood up and looked around.  I thought to myself if I do into this store he might come out of the other store and not see me.  If I go into that store he might be in the other store and still not see.  I didn't know which store to enter.  I was lost.  My stomach was all twisted up in knots.  All these people and I didn't know who to ask for help and none of them seemed to be my family.  It seemed as if time stood still.  In front of me was a big box store.  On the left and right side of the entrance of the box store were two other smaller stores.  Neither seemed appealing to go in to.  I tried to imagine which one my grandpa would be in, if he was in any of them at all. 

     "JILL!"  I heard someone yell.  I turn around in time to see my older sister grab my arm.  "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!   WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING EVERYWHERE FOR YOU!"  she didn't see pleased.  Behind her was a policeman.  Suddenly I felt as if I had done something wrong. 

     The office talked with me.  I don't remember what he said but I remember feeling scared.  We had to follow him somewhere.  I tried to hid behind my sister so I wouldn't be close to him.  He would walk just a step ahead of my sister.  Occasionally he would walk just to the left of my sister.  I would scurry to the right of her.  He would casually walk to the right of her.  I would quickly move to the left of my sister. His steps seemed hard and quick.   I was starting to think I was better off being lost.

     We finally arrived to the destination to the middle of the mall's information center.  I thought I was going to be arrested and sent to jail.  There my mom, grandparents and brother were waiting for me.  Their looks of concerned quickly turned to anger as they thought I just waltzed off on my own.  My mom thanked the officer and she quickly ushered me off to the bathroom for a prompt spanking.  I probably wished at that moment that the policeman did arrest me and sent me off to jail. 

     I didn't understand why I was getting spanked.  I never moved from where I was at.  It was grandpa who moved away from me!  I was only trying to find them and here it felt as if I was in trouble. 

     It wasn't until years later and talking about this story with my mom that I learned at the time of my disappearance another story of a boy who was lost in the mall was making headlines in the news.  Adam Walsh.  A 6 year old boy who was kidnapped out of a mall in Florida and later on someone found his head in a pond.  At the time the kidnapper was unknown.  The media put fear into the minds of parents all across the country.   Now being a parent myself I could understand the fear my mother could have felt that day, especially since the story of Adam Walsh. 

     From what happened to Adam Walsh came about the "Code Adam" that most stores use today in case a child goes missing.  Their protocol goes as follows: 

1. If a visitor reports a child is missing, a detailed description of the child and what he or she is wearing is obtained. Additionally, all exterior access to the building is locked and monitored; anyone approaching a door is turned away.
2. The employee goes to the nearest in-house telephone and pages Code Adam, describing the child’s physical features and clothing. As designated employees monitor front entrances, other employees begin looking for the child.
3. If the child is not found within 10 minutes, law enforcement is called.
4. If the child is found and appears to have been lost and unharmed, the child is reunited with the searching family member.
5. If the child is found accompanied by someone other than a parent or legal guardian, reasonable efforts to delay their departure will be used without putting the child, staff, or visitors at risk. Law enforcement will be notified and given details about the person accompanying the child.
6. The Code Adam page will be canceled after the child is found or law enforcement arrives

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_Adam