Open Post: What's happening in your world?

My husband and I have gone for a coffee at this beachside café for the last few weeks. Without really planning it the unspoken rule that has developed is “no phones” (i.e. zero distraction) and it has become this lovely little outing and a chance to catch up. Generally I think catch ups are for people you don’t see all the time, as opposed to someone you live with. Lots of our conversations at home are about day to day things, or consist of us joking around. There’s nothing wrong with that of course, but it is so lovely to hear his opinion and discuss current events and ideas. We’ve been together almost a decade and I adore him but I suppose it’s easy after that long to believe you know everything about a person. We were so young when we got together and I think I’m suddenly realising that he has grown up and just become the most amazing MAN. He’s been away for work this week. Normally I can’t wait to have him home and be all over him and hang out at be silly together and have my normal day to day home life back. But today all I want to do is sit down to dinner and catch up with him. Hear all about his week and things that are happening in the world and our lives. And then of course to be all over him… Today my Friday is soooo exciting!

I had quite an involved Wednesday night!!

I found a 6-year old girl playing on the sidwalk in a pile of garbarge (the kind people dump when they move) at roughly 6.30pm last night. I was walking home with my daughter and it was my daughter (also 6) who first noticed the little girl. Both girls were in the same school uniform, though the other child looked much smaller. My daughter, who is gregariousness on steroids, immediately went to investigate.

"Hi, what is your name? Where is your mummy and daddy? Are you lost?"

She said her name was 'Emily'. Not her real name, but I dislike referring to her as 'the child'.

It took a bit of coaxing, but eventually we were informed that Emily's mum was 'out shopping' and her dad was 'not in Australia'. She didn't appear to be afraid at all.

I asked her if she knew her mummy's or any other family member's mobile number. She did not. I asked Emily if she had any ID-tags on her (it's a school policy that all children have their name and emergency contact info with them on a card). She had none. She was wearing flip-flops and told my daughter, in a tiny voice, that she was cold. I put my jumper on her (she wore it like a dress) and while the two little girls played with my daughter's scooter, I tried unsuccessfully to ring the school. No surprise that there was no answer--it was close to 7pm by this point.

Then, Emily said that she lived at an apartment across the road. I took her there and we knocked on the door she indicated was her's. No reply. It's a pretty run-down block. But that's not the issue--mine is equally decrepit. It's more the fact that her alleged neighbours didn't seem to bother that we were looking for her mother, nor did they profess to knowing Emily at all! How odd, I thought.

"My mummy went shopping," Emily kept insisting. "She goes shopping at night."

I noticed her school bag was missing. If she'd been left unintentionally at school and had walked home by herself, then she ought to have had her bag with her.

"Where is your bag, sweetie?" I asked.

And then, eventually, I think I worked it out. Her mother had been at home earlier in the day to let her in. She'd left Emily home for most of the afternoon after school had finished. But Emily had been been bored so had gone outside to, "look for mummy," as she says. However, their front door shut behind her and deadlocked. Ergo, poor Emily is stuck outside her own house and has no idea when her mother is returning.

My own neighbours came to investigate. All are shocked by the situation. One of them helpfully gave me a flashlight, as it was quite dark.

By 7.30pm, I rang the police and offered to wait a while longer with the child in case her mother does return. I said I could bring Emily home with me, but they said that wasn't the done thing. The police were adamant that they would come immediately. The constable was less than impressed with the fact a 6-year old had been left alone at home, if indeed that was the case. They said they would send a patrol car to speak to me and see what they could do for the child. Naturally, by now, my daughter and Emily have become the best of friends and my daughter asks, "PLEASE Mummy, can we take Emily home for dinner?"

I realised belatedly that it is indeed dinner time and both girls are surely hungry. I was meant to have already finished cooking by then. So I sent my girl up to our apartment for whatever was in the pantry and fridge--cheese, crackers, Vaalia yogurt and a mandarine of questionable freshness. The girls sat on a low wall and ate it all.

7.45pm. A woman appeared. She goes to unlock her apartment door and is surpsied when Emily runs to her, quite awakwardly, given she is wearing my jumper. I was actually furious at this point and made my feelings known to her mother. The woman appeared speepish and embarrassed, but not as contrite as I would have preffered. No explanation is given.

She ushered Emily inside her house, who is closely followed by my daughter, whom I had to call back out.

"I wanted to say goodbye," my daughter grumbled.

I turn to ask if maybe the girls can exchange phone numbers and play, seeing as they are from the same school, are the same age and live so close--

My jumper is thrust into my arms and the door shuts in my face.

I rang the police to let them know the mother had returned and I could sense the officer was deliberating on how to follow up, or if they should follow up.

"Let us know if it happens again," he said, after a lot of "hmmmm"-ing

I said I would. My daughter was already one step ahead. She has made a 'Please Come And Play With Me' card, with our phone number and will be slipping it under their door this week.