Do You Know Where Your Child is Sleeping? Read This Before Their Next Sleepover

My oldest son just turned 10 last month. His good buddy Justin was unable to make it to his Birthday Slumber Party, so when Justin's mom called to ask if he could stay the night Friday night after school, I thought, "He'd really love that!". So, off he went, Friday after school, off to Justin's house for a sleepover. He'll be back Saturday at 6 PM.

Only, they never made it to Justin's house.

When I got a call today, around 5:00 this afternoon from the guard at the gate to my neighborhood, she said, "Myrna is here to drop off your son, may I let her in"? Well, sure, but I'm not even home; he wasn't expected back for another hour; I'm close, I'll be right there...

I pulled up to my driveway, got out of my car and turned, smiling toward my son. He looked sad, sullen and withdrawn...like he was about to cry, but he didn't. His buddy wasn't in the car, so I assumed they had a falling out; that happens! The mother got out of the car and tried to explain that everything between the boys was just fine, but Andrew just felt like coming home; she said she had NO IDEA WHY. She left, and I followed my upset child into the house. "Andrew, are you OK"? He yelled something I didn't understand, and I asked him to repeat it...and he did...and the story kept going on, and on and on, until I felt sick to my stomach, felt my knees start to buckle, and I began to cry. I held my son applologizing for his experience, then called his Dad and repeated the story to him...

Dave, it's me...Andrew just got home from Justin's sleepover, but he never made it to Justin's house. Both boys were driven directly to a stranger's home, dropped off, and Myrna said she'd be back in 1 hour. Andrew left his overnight bag, sleeping bag, pillow and blanket in her car, assuming she'd be back shortly...and the for the next 12 hours, he was in the same clothes, was not allowed to talk, was not allowed to use the phone to call anyone "or else", was not allowed to leave the living room area, and was not allowed anything to drink or eat, and at one point, both children were required to stay "perfectly still", and he said he had a hard time not showing that he was breathing.. He was given a handful of Hot Cheetos for dinner before bed. Bed was the carpet on the living room floor.

I was unable to get a hold of him the night before; knowing they had mentioned seeing a movie, I thought nothing of it. I went to bed, comfortable and warm, while my son lay on someone's floor, afraid alone, and cold. He was allowed ONE egg today, but he burned it this morning trying to make it himself as those were the terms; make it yourself, or don't eat. He's never cooked anything in his life; he burned the egg, got in trouble for smelling up the house, then starved. Where was the adult? Well, whoever HE was, he was upstairs, at the top of the stairs, passed out in his underwear while the football game blared on the TV in the bedroom behind him. A 12 year old girl and a 13 year old girl, basically held my son and his friend captive, scared them, starved them, and they cried ALL DAY LONG.

When Justin's mom called the house, she told the boys she would be on her way, and that she was sorry; that they should have called her anyway because "no one will ever kick them" ...how do they know that, and besides that, WHAT????? They are being threatened!!! I'm having trouble typing this, because I'm shaking...my God...the woman finally showed up 2 hours later, and then drove my son the hour and a half back to me. Devastated.

What did Justin's MOM have to say?? All Justin's mom said when I called was, "I can see your point" over and over again....

We are sitting here, waiting for the police to show up; they did agree that a report needs to be made, and I will also certainly call Child Protective Services, but MY GOD, did this really happen to my child? They treated him like an animal; they treated my beautiful son like a dog. What do I do with this? WHY DIDNT I REMEMBER TO PUT HIS CELL PHONE IN HIS BAG? WHY DIDNT I KEEP CALLING LAST NIGHT? WHEN I COULDNT REACH ANYONE TODAY, WHY DIDNT I KEEP TRYING? WHO WAS HE WITH? WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM THAT I DONT KNOW ABOUT? He was filthy...looked like he had slept outside....This guilt is eating me, but listen Mom's, DONT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES I DID!!! It will be a cold day in hell before he sleeps over at someone's house again; it just won't be happening, but if you do allow it, BE VERY CAREFUL. Think about it, really investigate, get ALL info of whereabouts and send a cell phone with your child. If they are too afraid, embarrassed or trapped to get help, at least they'll have some access to you...for God's sake; I'll never forgive myself for this.