Missing from school

I think I was around 8 or 9 years old at the time, studying in South Africa. It was a big Primary school with infinite places to hide. The school only had classes in the morning and some Parents would pick their children around lunch time, in that time the 3 main exits would open so that they could leave the school. For the students that could only get picked up after working hours, they would remain in school for "after-care" in which only a hand full of Teachers would remain watching over the remaining students. Everyone was confined to the back part of the school with the big soccer field and jungle gyms. My Mother would pick me up everyday around 4.30pm.

A certain day I decided to "escape" during lunch time to a friend's (Andrew)* house which was next door to the school. I remember playing in his room for hours on end with his legos. His Mom would ask me from time to time: -"Does your Mom know that you are here?" My answer would always be: " Yes she does, she said she would be late today, so I asked if I could stay here until she picks me up, around 8ish".

When I finally was woken up from my Lego fascination it was around 8pm. I told Andrew's Mom that I would have to go back to school as my Mother would be there already. As I returned towards one of the gates I found it extremely odd that there was so many Police officers with Dogs barking and sniffing me. The memories are a bit fuzzy but all I remember is finding my Mother crying in my Dad's arms as they directed me towards them, and then my Mother hugging me, crying. After that I don't remember.

Basically my parents had been called almost from lunch time, for when the "after-care" did the head count, and I was nowhere to be seen.


* Andrew - in 2004 I revisited South Africa and found out that Andrew had comitted suicide at some point in his life. R.I.P.