My husband and I were checking out at the grocery store tonight, and at the front of the store there is a large, double-door ice freezer. There was a little boy (couldn't have been more than 5 or 6) playing with around it. He kept opening the door to feel the cold on his face.

While we were paying the cashier, I suddenly heard a blood-curdling scream "LET ME OUT, LET ME OUT". The little boy had climbed into the freezer, and allowed the door to shut behind him. The way that these are constructed, it's impossible to open the door from the inside. (Which is just silly)

I immediately ran over there and opened the door, and the little boy spilled onto the floor and just stayed there, laying down, sobbing. He was still shaking, terrified. He couldn't have been in there for more than 5 seconds - but that's all it took.

His parents were absolutely nowhere to be found. This isn't a large grocery store, either... and even after all of that commotion, nobody ever came running. I picked the boy off the floor and held him for a second, and told him how dangerous it was to climb into refrigerators/freezers. I walked with him until we found his mom. He was still crying when we found her - and she literally couldn't have cared less. Here was this complete stranger, carrying her sobbing child - and she didn't even blink. I briefly explained what happened, and she stared at me - completely emotionless. She never comforted him at all, despite his obvious fear. She didn't say a word to him.

I felt horrible walking away.

Sorry, I just needed to vent about this. It really disturbed me. The fact that that little boy was off by himself was bad enough... because he obviously got himself into some trouble. If this freezer had been outside (which they normally are), it could have been several minutes before someone walked by and heard him.

But THEN... to act like that once he is returned to you...like you couldn't care less what had happened. It just irks me. It makes me wonder what day-to-day life is like for that little boy.

I'm still sad.

Sorry so long!

Wow, that's awful! If something like that had happened to me when I was 5, my mom would've-well, actually, she wouldn't let me out of her sight in the first place, but if I'd slipped away from her view-I'm sure she would've been a little uneasy that I was with a stranger (no offense Colbi I don't mean you!!), then she would've been SO grateful that the stranger rescued me!!

I wouldn't have wanted to leave that little boy either!!

That's terrible! He could have gotten hypothermia if he had stayed in there any longer than a few minutes! I'm so glad you got him out, Colbi! You should feel proud of yourself! And what a rude woman to ignore and not thank someone and not who just saved the life of her poor, innocent child!

~Izzy~

What a terrible parent! That little kid was lucky you were there, Colbi. I understand what you mean by *vent*, but if someone hadn't have heard...you can't just *vent* hypothermia and neardeathexperiencesforlittlekids away...

Wow! The poor child! It's a good thing you were there when you were, Colbi! And as for his mother, all I can say is... dispicable! She could have at least seemed grateful for your help or showed some kind of concern for her son's well being. Maybe she was having a bad day or maybe she just doesn't care, either way... nothing excuses acting so blasé about a situation such as this!

I suppose all you can do is keep this child in your thoughts and prayers and hope something like this doesn't happen to him again!

Mmmmm. I feel really bad for him, too. The scary thing really is not so much the incident at the store, but probably his daily life. Way to go, Colbi, for being so sweet and caring for that child and his health and circumstances. We should all pray for him that his life doesn't totally s**k. Sorry for the language there.