I had a 13-year-old wander into the convenience store I work in. I work in a sketchy part of town that’s full of drugs, guns, and plenty of homelessness. So I was genuinely concerned when I saw her young face, and she looked so worn out and exhausted with all her bags.

I asked her what was going on, and she told me that she ran away from home. Soon as she said that, alarm bells started going off in my head, but then what really set me off was the fact that someone was flirting with her not even 15 minutes after she walked in.

I bought the girl some food and water and convinced her that she’s a lot safer inside the store than out there since I carry a gun on me, and she agreed to stay till I closed.

From what she told me, her plan was to link up with a whole bunch of kids around 8–10. Some of them, being adults, will live under a bridge and eventually leave the state. Which sounded to me like she was being manipulated since she’s super young and very impressionable and gullible. I made sure that the young girl wasn’t being abused at home and that it was purely her being disgruntled from being yelled at. It sounded a lot like me when I was 13 anyway. The plan was all concocted by a 15-year-old that she’s friends with, and it just sounded like she wanted to fit in instead of being lonely.

Now I’m only 21, and I don’t know everything but 10/10 times I’d rather this girl get yelled at than get caught up in drugs, get assaulted by some meth head, or, god forbid, end up on the news. I called the cops on her, and luckily the officer that showed up is someone I’m familiar with and is pretty gentle with situations. Gave him her name, the friend's name, and their school to make sure they stopped whatever reckless plan this ridiculous 15-year-old came up with.

Today the mother of the 13-year-old came in. I’m guessing either the cop or the kid told her which store she was at, and she thanked me and offered to give me 20 bucks, which I politely refused.

Hopefully this brings some faith in humanity back to some of us living in this world that there are still people who will go above and beyond for your kids, my kids, and every kid in need or distress to safeguard their childhood and innocence.

Hopefully the kid grows up to understand why I had to get her sent back home.