Mom is out of town for a few days and Charles is visiting his grandmother so I’m alone with Corwin. I needed to work late one day so I arranged for Corwin to go home with his friend Jacob today. Corwin was very excited about this. After much phone calling and arrangements, everything was set - Corwin would head home with Jacob on the bus instead of going to day care. I put a note for his teacher in his backpack, although she said that Corwin spent most of the afternoon talking about going to visit Jacob anyway. The teacher dutifully made sure that Corwin and Jacob set off hand in hand to the bus after school. But a little while later I get a frantic call from Jacob’s mom that Corwin is missing. Apparently he didn’t arrive with Jacob. Of course, this is compounded because Erica the Brave is holding down the fort at Jacob’s house so everything is second hand. I’m not very concerned because at the time I assumed that Jacob had gotten on the bus while Corwin waited patiently in his room for Jacob to pick him up. I dropped by day care to verify that Corwin wasn’t there and then headed over to the school. Corwin’s not there and the staff is starting to panic. I go to talk to Corwin’s teacher and she tells her story. I head back to the office to try and figure out where Corwin might have gone. As we get back to the office Jacob’s mom is on the phone. Corwin did arrive with Jacob, but instead of visiting Jacob he went home instead. Neither Corwin nor Jacob apparently found this strange, despite the whole build up to “playing with Jacob”. Nor was Corwin concerned about the fact that nobody else was home. Finally Jacob, sensing somehow that something was wrong, went over to Corwin’s house and brought him back. Corwin’s explanation of why he hadn’t stayed to play with Jacob: “I kinda forgot”. I just had to explain this to his teacher, the office staff at school, the office staff at day care and the care provider at day care. I’m glad I arranged for this time saving adventure.
UPDATE: an exclusive interview by Order Horizon with Corwin himself
OH: Why didn’t you go home with Jacob?
Corwin: I kinda forgot.
OH: But you were very excited about it and talked about going all afternoon!
Corwin: I just forgot.
OH: What did you do while you were home alone?
Corwin: Played Re-Volt.
OH: Daddy was out driving around looking for you
Corwin: Oh. I just forgot. What’s in the box? [points at a box Dad brought home]
When Jacob arrived at home, Erica asked him “Did Corwin come home with you?” to which Jacob replied “No”, because he knew Corwin had gone to Corwin’s house. Erica interpreted this as Corwin not getting on the bus at all. After Jacob’s mom got home and interrogated Jacob more thoroughly, he disclosed Corwin’s whereabouts, with a bit of a smile. Jacob’s mom said “it’s not funny!” to which Jacob replied “yes it is”.
But except for that, a good time was had by all.