Dewdrop rode home from Roots and Bliss with us since her Daddy's car was full to the brim with supplies he'd hauled down for the event.
After only a few minutes on the winding, hilly roads, she let us know that her tummy wasn't happy and she wanted out of the car. Silly me, I gave her the ipad to take her mind off of her problems.
Now, I've gotten carsick enough in the past to know that reading doesn't exactly help the feeling, so giving her the ipad to look at probably wasn't very smart.
Soon, she starting spewing out buckets and buckets of breakfast. We pulled over pretty fast. And luckily, had a car loaded with camping supplies, towels, wash wipes, clean clothes, etc. I was glad to have trash bags too. And paper towels to save the ipad.
All of her toys were, um, saturated…. And she wanted something to snuggle. My mom used to make wash cloth dolls for me when I was sick, I wish I could ask her how she did that. I twisted up a paper towel into a baby in a blanky for Dewdrop, but it just wasn't as cute as what my mom used to make.
Still, it gave her something to snuggle and she was happy to hold it.
This curvy road wasn't the best luck for us. As scary as that spewing baby was, this is worse. On the way to the camp, we had a frightening experience, I was glad we didn't have a baby in the car with us then! As we were heading south, a young woman jumped out into the road, waving her arms and crying hysterically.
We pulled over, to see if she needed help, and she screamed that her boyfriend was trying to kill her. She wanted in the car, but I was leery. I've seen the ravages of meth on a person's body before and she had the tell tale signs of that addiction, but still I wasn't sure. We looked around, didn't see another soul, so dialed 911 and told her to wait by the car.
After we had the police on the line, we got out to see if she was okay. My husband wanted to let her in the car, but I've seen enough horror movies to know that if you are in the middle of nowhere and a stranger wants in your car, you probably shouldn't let them in. And wasn't this the part of the country that Winter's Bone was set in? Or maybe, Cabin in the Woods?
Well, I wasn't heartless, just careful. With the police on the way, we gave her water, food, and listened to her story while we waited by the car for the cavalry to come.
Apparently, her boyfriend was a fugitve from the law, and had kidnapped her and kept her captive in the woods for days, beating her with a baseball bat, threatening to kill her. Then, he drove off with her, they ran out of gas, and she escaped. It was hard to understand much of the story, she was crying so hard, and so frightened. She seemed battered, but didn't look like she had any broken bones. We asked if we should call 911 again and ask for an ambulance, but she said no.
While we waited, and waited for the police to come (we were in the middle of no where!) I gave her motherly advice about guys who are trouble,respecting herself and not letting him back in her life, and handed her some cash. I'm sure she appreciated the cash, I don't know about the advice.
And then she pointed out the boyfriend's car up the hill. As he walked toward it with a gas can!!
That was when we dialed 911 again, and made sure help was coming. They had us ask her if the guy had a gun, she said no, only the bat and a big flashlight he had hit her with. We decided we should drive away with her if he acted like he was coming towards us, but everything happened so fast, we didn't have a chance. After filling up his tank, he zoomed right at us, and luckily, kept on going, probably knowing the police were on the way.
Soon after, they arrived. The officer was very familiar with the loser who beat her, and said they had been hunting for him. I felt bad about not getting the license plate number, but it wasn't needed, they knew the car. I didn't find out if there had been a missing person report on this girl, or how long she had been kept in the woods, she said a few days. I still think she was probably involved with meth, it would have taken more than a few days to look as ragged and bone thin as she was.
What would you have done? My husband said that if I hadn't been there, he would have put her in the car and taken her away to call for help. I just didn't feel safe letting her in. Although, if the boyfriend had a gun, we would have been easy pickings when he showed up, and maybe we'd have been smart to drive away with her instead of waiting there for the police. She kept begging to leave, because she thought he was coming to kill her. And I guess he could have killed us too.
I think you did the best thing you could. I wouldn’t have let her in my vehicle either. No thank you and I wouldn’t have given her any money either… just me. Calling 911 was best. I suppose you just have to trust your gut. Yikes – glad things turned out OK.
This is really scary. You did the right thing and now remember when the girls are on a car trip to carry Benadryl and in fact, give her some before you get to the hills. Where in the Ozarks were you? Sounds like SW Mo.???
Karla…wouldn’t have let her in the car either. You just never know. You did get her help and that was important. She could have been an accomplice for all you know.
Yep, SW MO on our way to Eldridge. We dont go that direction very often, but I sure wont take that little girl on a long curvy drive again without being ready for carsickness!
Regina, that was my fear, that she was the bait for us to be attacked!
Gosh Karla, that was a scary and tough situation. I would have been afraid to let her in my car, too. If push came to shove and the guy looked like he was coming after you then I couldn’t have left her to fend for herself. Letting the police deal with it is the best choice.
OMG, how scarey! I totally understand your intuition not to let her in the car. These days you cannot be too safe, you did the right thing. You got her help and stayed with her until they arrived!!!
So scary, Karla! I do think you did the right thing. What a terrible situation to deal with!
As a victim of carsickness, I’ve found that riding in the front seat helps a lot. That’s probably not an option with a little one these days, though. Having plenty of cool air helps a lot to, as does Dramamine. I never travel without it. You can also get SeaBands at the drugstore, etc. – just terry bands with a little button that hits the right pressure point on your wrist to prevent motion sickness. I’ve also found that riding facing backward is the absolute worst thing. Hope Dewdrop fares better on her next adventure!
Poor Dewdrop!
And you were very smart with your caution ~ what a horrifying situation!
Another driver stopped to wait with us, he was local. I felt safety in numbers when he arrived! It was surprising that the police took so long, it couldve been much worse if the boyfriend wasnt in such a hurry to get away.
Wed have taken her with us if the boyfriend looked like he was stopping. All of us were ready to jump in the car and speed away, but he must have been going about 90 mph or more as he rushed by.
I debated on the cash. In the end, I figured that forty bucks might make a difference to her, but not to me.
Tell your husband never to put a lone women in his car – they can later accuse him of sexual assault. This happens a lot.
Thank heavens everything turned out fine…what a scary situation for everyone..I would still be shaking in my boots…take care
I wouldnt have thought if that scenario, Rhonda!
omg 🙁
I’ll say this for you. You do led a very interesting life.
WOW Karla. How incredibly scary. I don’t know what I would have done except trust my instincts, which you did do. Don’t ever second guess yourself. I’m happy everyone was safe.
I think you did the right thing as well. The world is scary and you can never be too careful. After all you did help her. You just didn’t let her in your car. I too have seen people on meth and they do have a certain look to them. I pass them on the street all the time and you just know that they are using. So sad. Thanks for helping this girl out.
That girl was probably 18-29, but her face looked 40. I knew she wasnt, it had to be drugs. Youre right, Yvonne, Its a look you know when you see it.
Ha! Rainy, I dont tell half of it, the best stories are secrets still. My sister thinks I need to write a book about the odd happenstances and craziness that follows me everywhere.
scary! i think you did the right thing-by nature we want to help (ie, throw her in the car and go) but sadly there are too many nuts in the world and dishonest people-like you, i’ve seen the movies and would have been leery of someone hiding while she flagged you down. sounds like you did your best and it worked out.