I hate Wal-Mart...and I usually end up wanting to cuss by the time I leave after having to wait in line and then have to be checked out by an employee thats (ready to go home, more interested in talking to their friend standing by, or just so freaking slow that dead lice is falling off). Now, there is an exception to some very good employees, but you know how life is...we just usually let the bad stick out in our minds. Well, tonight we went to get groceries (Ron and Elijah went to the other side of the store...Bent stayed with me). After a few aisles of shopping, Bentley got a little antsy and was walking the aisles in front of me...Id call him back, and hed make his way too me. Soon, he made it to the end and looked both ways, he came back. He then said Im going to find Daddy! As he proceeded to do the same thing, but this time after looking both ways he stepped out is sight. I yelled and no Bentley....the aisle had boxes sitting in the middle (so I thought briefly he was just standing on the opposite side)...no such luck. I made my way to get him...he was GONE. I did the quick run through the next couple of aisles on both sides of where we had been...no Bentley! So, I panicked and thought OMG, hes went to the other side of the store!, so I went to the 1st cashier closest to the door to get help (she was no help and said go to service desk), I went to service desk (she was no help and said I needed a manager)...There is something obviously wrong with this when a parent has just lost a child...a DAMN PANIC button should be hidden somewhere on each employee incase like this!!! As I stood in disbelief, tears whaling up trying to look around to make sure someone was making their way out the door with him an angel by the name of Gina Marlin approached me and offered her help. Finally, a manager made his way to us and I told him the situation as he was walking in the opposite direction (I was baffled at this time). It was then Gina said Youve got enough sense, go find your son and Ill stay here incase he makes it up here!...so off I took (still baffled in the managers help). I ran into Ron and Elijah at this time with no Bentley (so, I briefly explained and off they went looking)...a few seconds later I heard them calling for me to the front desk. I kept searching for him as I had not seen any help from them at this point...no Bentley!!! It was then I heard the description of Bentley come across the intercom and realized Ron must have went to the service desk to give them a more detailed description (other than blonde hair and blue shirt). Im going through the aisles yelling his name at this time, with no luck (just crazy looks from people)....I made it back to the groceries and I heard someone describe him and asked is this him...I stepped out and he was running towards me with an employee right behind him. I picked him up and loved him and cried and loved him and cried and loved him. I turned and Payne Long (the manager who did actually help and got it out across the intercom for the employees to look for) was standing there...I thanked him. The woman that was chasing him smiled and said I couldnt get him to stop, he just kept running from me. As I thanked her, I couldnt help but giggle on the inside as tears rolled down my face...thinking of Bentley running and hollering STRANGER DANGER!!! I was an emotional wreck, am still a wreck but as the tears started flowing again as we checked out and I stared at the doors...all I could think about was praising God that he didnt make it out those doors without us or much worse with someone we didnt know. Im thankful for the employees that directed me toward help (no matter how flawed the process), Im thankful for the Mother who seen my fears and Im thankful for the lady that chased him to the safety of my arms...however, Ill forever hate Wal-Mart in a different sense now. Praise god for my family making home safely!
Posted on: Mon, 05 May 2014 03:56:59 +0000