Too Close For Comfort

Elizabeth was a curious person by nature. She was always sticking her nose into things. One day she was sitting at the park and noticed that a young boy grabbed a woman’s purse. She yelled and went after the boy. When she caught up with him, she was out of breath. Elizabeth retrieved the woman’s purse and returned it to her. The woman was so thankful and tried to pay Elizabeth. She told the woman no and went back to her park bench. This kind of thing was normal for her, because she watched people all the time. Elizabeth’s family and friends didn’t understand why she couldn’t keep her nose to herself.

She left the park and headed to the grocery store to pick up a few things. Of course this wasn’t going to be just any old trip to the grocery store. While examining the tomatoes Elizabeth noticed a woman dragging a little girl through the store. She had her hand over the little girl’s mouth. What did she do? Well, Elizabeth couldn’t help herself, she ran over and accused the woman of kidnapping. The mother got extremely upset and told Elizabeth to mind her own business. The little girl was having a tantrum and the mom was trying to get her out to the car without a scene. Elizabeth apologized several times and the mom called her a busybody. She wondered if her family and friends were right. Maybe she was too nosy, Nah she was just curious.

Elizabeth headed to her car with her groceries when she saw a woman being snatched into a car. She knew there was something wrong this time and she was going to follow them. While in pursuit her mother calls. She answered the call through her car. Her mother asked what she was doing and Elizabeth said she was out for a drive. Her mother reminded her that gas wasn’t cheap and she didn’t need to be out just riding around. Elizabeth told her she needed to go. The main reason was the van she was following was hauling butt. Elizabeth couldn’t talk and chase this van. The van took a turn down a dirt road. Elizabeth slowed down and waited to follow them. She didn’t want it to be obvious that they were being followed. Now her sister was calling. She answered with frustration. Her sister wanted to know if she had picked up the ham for Christmas dinner. Elizabeth reassured her sister that she had in fact bought the ham.

After turning down the dirt road the van pulled over at an old cabin. Elizabeth watched from a distance as the man carried the woman inside. What was she going to do? She had to rescue this woman, but how. She waited for the man to leave and she rushed down to the cabin. She pushed the door open and said don’t worry I’m here, you’re safe. The woman was looking at her like she was crazy! Elizabeth noticed champagne and candles. She told the woman that they had to hurry before the man came back. The woman told her she was a nut and that she was trespassing. She asked the woman if she was okay. The woman said she would be if Elizabeth would leave. She asked the woman plainly if she had been abducted. The woman laughed and said no this is my honeymoon. Elizabeth was shocked. She calmly responded by saying that she witnessed the man drag her into the van. The woman laughed and explained that she had too much to drink and couldn’t walk.

Elizabeth left the cabin and the laughing woman. It dawned on her that she had the Christmas ham in the car and needed to get it in the fridge. Her boyfriend was calling this time and asked why she was out in the country. She told him the same thing she said to her mom, that she was out for a drive. She asked him how he knew where she was. He told her that after all the trouble she gets herself in, he put a tracking device on her car. In a weird way she thought that was sweet. At least now if she goes missing they will be able to find her.She gave him her love and hung up. She was ready to get home and write down all the exciting things that happened to her.

The next day came and she was ready to start it. Christmas would be here before she knew it and Elizabeth still had shopping to do. The thought of people watching excited her too. People are fascinating to watch. You have young couples swooning over each other and senior couples who still hold hands. On the other hand there were those that argue in public or ignore their screaming children. The best to watch were the people with extravagant taste. Those that seem to walk to the beat of their own drum, not concerned about who may see them. Either way she was going to make time to sit and watch.

She started out at the local coffee shop with a cup of peppermint hot chocolate. As she slipped Elizabeth watched the families, couples and individuals walking down the sidewalk. There was a young couple walking so close together that they were almost one person. Then there was a mother with six children like door steps, she seemed tired, but happy. Before you know it she saw a hit and run. Elizabeth quickly jotted the tag number down and went to see if there was anyone in the other car. There was a lady in there and she hit her head on the driver’s side window. Elizabeth called 911 and stayed with the lady. After giving her report to the police officer she left the scene.

It was time to hit the shops for their specials and finish her shopping list. The hardest to shop for was her parents. She knew they already had everything. Elizabeth thought about their interest and decided what she would get them. On her way to the shop she noticed a stray dog with a collar and tags. It was too cold outside and surely this little fur baby was missed by someone. So yes, she picked the little dog up and looked for someone who had lost their dog. A young man came up to her and said the dog had gotten away from him. Elizabeth asked if the dog was his. The young man said he was walking the dog for his grandmother and he didn’t have the leash clipped good.

Elizabeth was relieved and went back to her shopping. She told herself that she couldn’t have anymore distractions if she was going to have gifts to give at Christmas. She went into the craft supply store to shop for her mother. Elizabeth was able to find several gifts there. When she left her boyfriend called. He wanted to remind her of their dinner date that evening. He also asked if she was staying out of trouble. Elizabeth told him that she was just Christmas shopping. She decided to take a break and sit at the park for a few minutes. Once she was there minutes turned into hours as she got caught up watching people.

Right before Elizabeth was about to leave, she noticed a man watching children on the playground. He didn’t look like he was with anyone. The man stood off to the side very conspicuously. She continued to watch as he was looking at one little boy playing. She wondered if he knew the little boy. Then the boy ran up to his Mom for a juice box. Elizabeth was sure this man wasn’t with them. She was going to keep an eye on him. Hopefully he wouldn’t do anything stupid. As she watched Elizabeth noticed that the man was only watching that boy and his mom.

The little boy ran after a ball and the man called him over. The little boy went to him and before Elizabeth could say anything the man grabbed him. She yelled out to the boys mom and ran after the boy. The little boy’s mom came rushing over. Elizabeth explained that a man grabbed him. The mom asked what the man looked like and called the cops. Elizabeth got in her car and followed after them. She was driving way too fast, but she had to catch up with him and see where they were going. Elizabeth almost ran into another vehicle. She could see the blue pick up in her sights.

The man turned down a back road and slowed down. Elizabeth watched from a distance as he got the little boy out of the truck and switched vehicles. She had to let someone know what he did. She didn’t know what to. Elizabeth went to call the cops, however the man took off before she had a chance. She continued following them out of town. After what seemed like forever the car turned down a long driveway. Elizabeth hung back hoping not to be seen. She slowly crept down the driveway until she noticed the car was parked at an old shack of a house.

Elizabeth glanced at her clock and realized she had been in pursuit for three hours. She got out of her car and tried to sneak up to the house. She made it to a window so she could peak in. As she was peering in the window Elizabeth felt someone grab her. She screamed and turned around. The man she was following had caught her. What was she going to do now? He put a cloth over her mouth and she was out.

Elizabeth woke up tied to a chair. She looked around to see where she was. She noticed that the little boy was coloring at a table and the man was sitting in a chair at the table. When he noticed she was awake, he approached her. He told Elizabeth that he didn’t want to hurt her. She asked what his plan was for the boy and her. He explained that the boy is his son. He told her that when they leave he would call the police and report her being there. He said that he just wanted to get away with his son.

Elizabeth tried to tell the man that there were better ways to deal with this. He refused to listen and complained that this was the only way. The little boy asked when he would get to see his mom. Hiss father tried to brush the question off, but the little boy started crying. His dad yelled at him and told him to stop crying. Elizabeth was starting to get concerned for her and the boy. His dad seemed to have a short fuse. She had really done it this time. This wasn’t how she expected her day to go. She had started out shopping and ended up kidnapped.

Hours had gone by and Elizabeth was skeptical about how this would end. She was tired and knew her family was worried as well as the little boy’s mom. She had to try and talk to this man. She tried appealing to this man’s since of understanding, but it didn’t seem he had any understanding. She prayed that God would help her out of this situation. She would definitely stop meddling in other people’s business after this. Why did she keep putting her self in situations that weren’t safe?

Elizabeth noticed the dad was getting more agitated with his son. The little boy was upset, because he wanted his mom. She felt this wasn’t going to end well for any of them. She asked if she could use the bathroom and he said he would let her. The man told her not to try anything. While she was in the bathroom, Elizabeth heard the front door bust open and a lot of scuffling. She locked herself in the bathroom. She waited and waited while there were strange noises in the other room.

She was shocked to hear her boyfriend ask if she was in the bathroom and okay. Elizabeth opened the door and tears rolled down her face as her boyfriend embraced her. She pulled back and asked about the little boy. Her boyfriend explained that the boy is safe in his mother’s arms. Elizabeth went back into her boyfriend’s arms and wept. She told him that she was sorry and thanked him for installing the tracking device. She said that she was ready to focus on getting ready for Christmas and her life. Elizabeth was going to keep her nose to herself and tame her curiosity.