When our children were about 4 years old, I worked in downtown Little Rock and parked in a parking garage. Due to some increased crime in that area, I carried pepper spray on my keyring. Toby had tried to get me to carry a small handgun; however, since I am so clumsy I opted out. I always tried to remember to keep my keys/pepper spray handy, just in case…..
Usually by the time I got home in the evenings, I had so much on my mind that involved cooking supper, taking care of Raylee and Tia, doing laundry and just trying to relax that I generally just threw my handbag and keys on a shelf. Raylee and Tia had often asked me what the bright yellow button was on my keyring and I had told them that I used it on bad guys. I let them know that it was dangerous and could kill them and that they must not touch it.
One Saturday morning while doing the things working mothers do on weekends, while the kids play, I heard Raylee screaming and crying. He had gotten my keys and managed to spray himself right in the face with the pepper spray. Since I wasn’t really sure what to do, I called 911. They had me put him in the shower and start rinsing his face and said an emergency crew would be right over. I had barely gotten him in the shower when they rang the door bell (perk of living in the middle of town).
While the EMT guy was in the bathroom with Raylee, I heard him asking some questions and trying to calm Raylee down. I could hear Raylee loudly screaming at the top of his lungs the entire time, “I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die!”
After the EMT’s had taken care of my little boy, they asked me a few questions and I explained to them that I had told both of the children not to touch the pepper spray as it would kill bad guys. They laughed and left.
Even though I was scared to death, you should have seen Raylee’s face all scrunched…actually, you couldn’t see his face it was covered up by his entire mouth opened as widely as it could open screaming, “I’M GONNA DIE!”
Moral of this story, don’t tell your kids pepper spray will kill them — it’ll bring DHS knocking at your door for child endangerment.
Haha, I liked this. As the others I have read, I enjoy all the descriptions and details in the story. The sequence of events flows very well and so does the transitioning. I like reading your stories that are in first person, not only because I imagine you personally being there, but I can relate better, and I feel as though you are telling me a story instead of me reading it. I liked how you included some humorous parts in this as well as serious parts also.
This story is hilarious! I can just imagine you calling 911, and throwing your little boy in the shower (I’m sure clothed and all) and then having the EMT’s laugh as they leave. I have had pepper spray in my eyes before; and I’m with Raylee, you really think your going to die or that your eyes are going to fall out of your head.
I love your humor and I enjoy these stories into your life.