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The only time that we became really frightened and
upset over Keaton’s actions at our house was on the
last day of school at Critzer Elementary. Carl and I
had picked him up at school instead of his riding his
school bus to the high school to meet his parents.
There had been a fifth grade “graduation” assembly
we had attended, since his parents were busy with last
day happenings at high school. Keaton had wanted to
ride the bus, his usual routine, so he was unhappy
with us for the change. After we had brought him
home, he went into another room to be by himself,
we thought. However, a little later, we realized that
he was not in the house or the fenced-in backyard.
We called to him, searched up and down the street,
and also his house. All in vain! Just as we were ready
to take the car to look for him, we received a call
from the school that he had walked back to school,
and had been found in the cafeteria eating pizza. We
went back to pick him up a second time. He received
our frightened and upset lecture. After all, he had
walked several blocks with no sidewalks and had
crossed a very busy highway. The end result was that
we were all very relieved and grateful to have him
safely home.