I'm Innocent I Tell Ya, Innocent!

It has been a long week here. Today the kids and I took down all of the Christmas decorations. We finally finished off the rest of the leftovers from our company. Since we have been inside for a couple days and it has been cold and rainy, I decided when PK called to say he was on his way home I would suggest we go out for dinner. We have been putting forth a great effort to spend less money and have only been eating out about once a month. PK was game and told me to decide where I wanted to go. I called him back and told him I thought Cici's pizza was a good idea. For those of you who have never heard of Cici's, it is a buffet and inexpensive. The whole family likes it and the kids always eat really well there.

We were enjoying our time at the restaurant and the kids were being very well behaved. P.K. had a plate of salad first and when he was ready to go back for pizza, Hannah was ready for more. He took her with him and when they returned, she needed to go potty. I took her. There were two stalls in the bathroom and they were both occupied. It was a mom and daughter. I figured this out because the girl in the first stall was talking to her mom in the second and called her "Mom" and the lady responded. Hindsight, I so wish I could remember what they were talking about.

The woman came out of the stall first. She had been using the handicap stall and if you have ever had to take a child potty you know that the handicap stall is easier because it is roomy. I took Hannah in and she did her business. I remember the lady's cell phone rang and by the time we came out the lady and the girl were gone. We both washed our hands. (Thoroughly, I might add because I detest public bathrooms.)

We went back to our seats. A few moments later I saw the same lady from the bathroom rushing back toward the bathroom and talking on her cell phone. She came out and walked over to our table. She asked if I had just taken my daughter to the bathroom when she was in there. I told her I did. She asked if I found...I think she said glasses case...I told her I didn't find anything in the bathroom. She paused for an awkward amount of time and looked over our table as if she was looking for whatever it was she had asked me if I found. She walked off. We were sitting at the back of the restaurant and I noticed her toward the front. I thought she kept watching us, but I thought I was just being paranoid. We were probably at the restaurant about 15 minutes after the conversation. We all finished up and headed out the door. When we walked out of the restaurant she was standing out front. When I was buckling Hannah in the car, the lady walked behind my car. That was a bit of a red flag and made me feel uncomfortable so I was trying to quickly buckle Hannah.

About the time I started to get in the car, a police car pulled up behind me and the officer asked if I had called for the police. I said, "no" and got in the car.

I started to back out and had to wait for a car to drive by. Once the car had passed and I looked in my side mirror to back out the police officer was on his radio and calling in my license plate number. I stopped and he started shining his flashlight in my back seat. I put the car in park and rolled down my window. In their defense, both officers were very polite.

Officer: (speaking to me at my window) So, what's going on?

Me: Uhm? We just finished having pizza and I am taking my family home? (Yes, it was kind of stated as a question because I figured he was looking for more. By this point, I was realizing the woman thought I had taken whatever she left in the bathroom and had called the police.)

Officer: Have you had interaction with this woman? (Points to the woman standing on the sidewalk in front of the car.)

Me: I took my daughter to the restroom and she was in there. She came to my table later and asked if I took, I think she said her glasses case. I told her no. That was it until just now.

Officer: O.K. Do you have any id on you?

Me: Yes. (I get my wallet and as I am pulling out my driver's license I decide it might me a good idea to hand him my military id as well.)

Officer: (Looks at my id. Sees he has a military id in his hand. Chuckles.) OK. We'll get this straightened out.

Now, PK and I are just in total disbelief. At least one person who checks my blog regularly only knows me through bloggy land, so I feel that I should mention at this point that I have never even had a speeding ticket.

About this time a second officer who looks about 12 years old shows up at my window and asks me what is going on. I go through the same story, again. At this point I think it prudent to tell him what PK does for a living. He says, "It's ok. We'll get this worked out. It isn't personal. She has filed a complaint and we have to follow up." PK asks if he can get out of the car and the officer says he better stay put. I have realized at this point that the lady may not be playing with a full deck and I told PK it may not be safe to get out of the car.

The second officer walks over to the first officer and the lady. He comes back and asks me if I found anything in the bathroom. He asked if it were possible that my child picked something up. Hello! It was a public bathroom. I don't even let them touch the walls, let alone pick up a foreign object and carry it away.

The lady is trying to convince the first officer to search me because I heard him say, "I can't just search her. I don't have probable cause to do that."

He then tells the lady to keep her hands out of her pockets. By this point, I have figured out that the police realize I didn't do anything and the lady is trying to place blame for misplacing whatever she lost on someone.

He eventually brought me my id back and apologized for holding us up and interrupting our evening.

As we were backing out, both officers walked past PK's window so he rolled down his window and asked if we needed to do anything else. They said, "No. We don't know what is going on." Then they both rolled their eyes.

A few things you should know. This restaurant is about 2 miles down on the same highway where I ran into the lady who thinks the Atlantins are on Mars. I am taking my business to another part of town. Thankfully, I don't think the kids were scared. I was really worried that they were going to be terrified. When a police officer comes to the window of my car, my kids will remain deadly quiet. All the crazies live near me. I made sure she did not follow us home.

When we were finally out of the parking lot and on the road Rachel asked, "Mom, was that a blog worthy moment?"