Trying to help can get someone into trouble.

A few weeks ago, we were getting ready to go out to the village with a friend.  We were running a little late, so my friend came by to see what was taking us so long.  I was so glad she did because a girl came by while she was at the door.  The teenage girl came to me with a sob story.  It was one you could hardly believe was true, but it would break your heart if it was.  I wanted to help but we were on our way to the village.  I asked my friend if the girl could stay at our house until we returned and could figure out what to do for her.  We took the girl to my friend's house.  We explained the situation to her husband, who agreed to let the girl stay there for the day.  After spending the day at the village, I went to visit my friend and her husband.  I said i wanted to help the girl but that it was not prudent for her to stay at our house.  I asked if she could stay at their house, while we figured out where the girl belonged.  I took them some food to help out in caring for the girl.

The next day the girl came to visit me at my house.  She had originally asked for a teammate, so I let the teammate talk to the girl.  I thought the teammate would know her, but she did not.  We got a little more of the story, but I also realized that some of the details changed.  I decided to investigate the next day, when I would be going to language class. 

I went to language class on day 3 of the saga.  My language teacher informed me that it was not wise to have a minor stay in the house without going to the police first, because the police could come after the person sheltering the child.  I planned to go to my friend's family to suggest we take the girl to the police, once my class was over. 

Before I headed home, though, I decided to check out more of the girl's story.  My teacher went with me to ask a neighbor that the girl mentioned if the girl had ever worked for her.  The neighbor had never even heard of a girl by that name.  We explained the situation.  A neighbor across the way heard us talking.  She said that the story sounded like the daughter of another neighbor of theirs who had run away a few days before.  My teacher went to see the other neighbor.  The father and the mother of the runaway girl agreed that they thought this was their daughter.  I brought the mother and my teacher to my house.

I went to get my friend and the girl from my friend's house.  As we neared my house, the girl got increasingly more nervous about what was happening.  As we approached the gate, she took off running. We searched all over for her to no avail.  I took the mom over to my friend's house to talk out what had happened.  The mother reaffirmed that this behavior was normal for her daughter.  I took the mother and my teacher home, just as I had said I would.

That afternoon the father and mother of the girl came to see my friend and her husband.  Understandably the father was upset about the situation.  When emotions are high, things can be said or taken in a way that one does not intend.  When there is a problem, individuals are supposed to go to a mediator, who might be the chief, to get things straightened out.  If that does not work, then one proceeds to the police or court.  The father went to the police and came back with an order for my friend's husband to appear at the police station the next day. 

Since I was the one who took the girl to the house and asked my friend's husband to let the girl stay there, I could not very well leave him to take the fall for everything.  I resolved to go with him to give my testimony to the police, as did my teammate.  Though the town we live in is a good size and is what we might call a county seat, the police have only one officer in charge of listening to and recording testimonies.  A more pressing incident happened, so our case was put on hold until the officer finally asked us to come back the next day.

Our langauge teacher had come and we were standing outside the police station with her.  She is well known in our town.  A gentleman from the government building came over to greet her.  She told him a bit of the situation, but he wanted to hear the whole story in his office.  We went to his office to discuss the situation.  He understood but also understood where both sides had made errors.  He asked us all to return with the father to fully address the situation.  We did.  The gentleman asked the father to please forgive the situation and to release the police papers.

Often it is about who you know.  It is also about following proper protocol on handling situations.
"In all things, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."