One More Reason To Not Help Others: I Got the Wrong Kid

It’s always easier to say you’ll do something than it is to actually do it. It’s even harder to make sure you do it right. Have you ever babysat for a friend’s child? Those pesky “other people’s kids”, right? You try to be nice and it just comes back to bite you in the ass.

“Can you pick up my daughter from school?” she asks.

“Sure I can.” you respond. You’re not close with the kid, but it’s just a ride. It’s not like you have to raise the brat!

“Just make small talk. Drop the kid. Earn points with mom.” you tell yourself. Easy peasy.  You drive to the school, pull up next to the kid, ask her to get in the car, (this just sounds creepy) and she does. You’re half way home, literally, when you realize something isn’t right. This is not the right kid. You’re screwed.

I suppose as a parent, you just thank your lucky stars that he was an honest guy who made an honest mistake. It’s not like he gave the kid cocaine and took her to a strip club or anything.

What are the odds that two girls, both named Courtney, both attending the same Gloucester City, NJ school would both be waiting to be picked up by a friend of their respective mothers? It’s not a large town so I can’t imagine the school is that big. Still, none of that surprises me as much as the following things.

Courtney Fetter, age 6 (left). Courtney Durr, age 9 (right).

1. A 9 year old was allowed to get into a vehicle with someone she did not know.
She knew she was supposed to be picked up by a friend of her mother. She did not question the fact that she didn’t know the driver. She just got in.

“I told her I was looking for Courtney,’” said Deaner. “And the young girl said her name was Courtney.”

2. A school allows children to be picked up by someone other than an authorized guardian without ID and written consent of the guardian.
How easy would it be for a child predator to watch a parking lot to see what kids are picked up by different people regularly?

“I got off the bus and he pulled up and he asked if there was a Courtney,” said Courtney Durr. “I said, ‘Yeah.’ My crossing guard let me go and I went with him.”

3. The crossing guard allowed the girl to leave, despite the fact that she knew she was getting in a car she didn’t normally get into. She recorded the plate number and notified the police. The mix up was straightened out and no charges were filed.

Holy Hannah! Why wait until the child is gone? Stories like this make me so glad my kids are past the age of after school pick up. This is why I don’t babysit or do favors. As a parent, this has to make you question how safe your kids are at the bus stop.

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