Stranger Danger!

So you always teach your children 'stranger danger' but never really think they get it because they are always wondering off or.., you know..., talking to strangers. Today Samuel was up the street (too far by our rules) so I was started to call him back. But, as I was trying to call him, I could see off in the distance, at the end of the street, his bike laying on its side in the gutter. I could also hear him screaming at the top of his lungs. I couldn't make out what he was saying and thought for sure he had been hit by a car and was bleeding or something aweful like that. As he got closer, I could make out that he was saying "Stranger! Stranger! A stranger is after me!!!" He was beyond hysterical! Seriously over the edge upset. All he could get out was that a stranger was after him and was going to take him. In the meantime, our friendly neighbor, had picked up Samuel's bike and was walking toward us in an attempt to return it. Samuel was completely beside himself and completely hysterical. He was so worried that this man was going to take him and me. I sent him home so I could get the bike and explain to our neighbor what was happening. All the while, I could hear Sam screaming as he was running like a bandit to our house. When I got home less than a minute later, I could still hear him screaming in the house, but now, it was accompanied with Lauren's scream that a stranger was outside and was going to take him. Cesar was trying to feed Isabella and when I walked in, he asked what was going on and why was Samuel on the phone. What? On the phone? Well, take it away from him! He doesn't need to be on the phone. Sure enough, who was Samuel calling? 911! Yup, my little Sam dialed 911 because a stranger was up the street. Cesar had him hang up the phone, not realizing until after who it was. Then I had to explain to the dispatch lady when she called back that my 5 year old son had made a mistake and was afraid of a stranger and that I needed to do a bit more education with him. She asked me two or three times how old he was. I was trying SO hard not to laugh! All the while, Sam and Lauren are screaming like crazy! After Cesar reminded me not to laugh about this, we had a little heart to heart about the proper way to use 911 and that the man up the street was his friends dad and that he really wasn't a stranger. He wasn't following him, he lived there. Don't worry, I reassured him a hundred times that he did the right thing, but next time, ask mom or dad for help in calling 911. He said he didn't know the number for 911, so he just counted the numbers out for the 9, then the 1 and again for another 1. Can you believe this kid? I am still laughing. I know I shouldn't, but I am.