The Teenage Street Girl

I saw a girl on the street corner when I went to go pick up my son. She was kind of dirty with dark, matted, hair. I wasn't sure if she was a homeless person or just waiting for a ride. She had on dark clothes and a back pack and was leaning up against the brick wall on the sidewalk.

About two hours later, we were driving home, it was dark and my son said, "There's a person laying on the sidewalk against the wall." It was the same spot that I had noticed the girl earlier. I was a little worried and quickly turned the car around to see if she was okay. She was curled up in a fetal position with her head facing the wall. I pulled over and asked if she was okay. Luckily she said, "Yeah, I'm fine." She was so young...16 or 17. I couldn't imagine what would put her on the street like that. I said, "Are you sure you're okay? Do you want some pizza?"

I had just dropped some off for my husband and the kids at the football field. He had loaded up one box and taken it. There was still another box, breadsticks and some pizza. She quickly got up and came closer to the car, "What?" The tone in her voice burst out louder, anxiously anticipating the question that she thought she heard. I reached for the pizza box, only to find it was an empty box. My husband had taken ALL of the slices. I said, "I'm sorry I didn't know the pizza was gone. Would you like some breadsticks and a Pepsi?" "YES...THANKS" I handed it to her. Still worried about her, "Do you need anything?" Hoping she would burst out with a loud "YES...I'm alone, scared, I have no where to go and no one to turn to, I need help." Of course the only answer was, "No." As I pulled away I saw a policeman driving slowly by.

I got home and couldn't get the girl out of my head. I grabbed a pillow, blanket and this amazing book that I've been reading and re-reading every morning (3rd time), "Battlefield of the Mind," by Joyce Meyers. I drove back to the spot she was laying, but she was gone.

What would drive a young girl with her whole life ahead of her onto the streets? Was it drugs, abuse, fear...she was so young. Whose child is it? Are they worried about her, unable to sleep, driving around hoping to find her? My head just kept going over all these possiblities. As a mother, my first instinct is to save her. I know that some people don't think they need or want help. I know that I can only show unconditional, non-judgemental love by giving what I have to make them see that they are not alone in the world. Maybe someone's act of kindness will reach deep inside their heart and make a difference. I don't know, but my responsibility is to listen when my heart is being tugged...going the extra step to help someone in need, just like others have reached out during difficult times in my life.