{"id":5216,"date":"2024-10-22T18:15:55","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T18:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/?p=5216"},"modified":"2024-10-22T18:17:51","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T18:17:51","slug":"grandmas-house-horror-my-sons-desperate-call-for-rescue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/grandmas-house-horror-my-sons-desperate-call-for-rescue\/","title":{"rendered":"Grandma\u2019s House Horror: My Son\u2019s Desperate Call for Rescue"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My 10-Year-Old Son, Who Was at His Grandmother\u2019s House, Called Me Saying, \u2018Save Me, Mommy!\u2019\n\n\n\n

My world completely changed when I answered a phone that arrived two weeks after I had sent my son to live with his grandmother.\n\n\n\n

My son was under my mother-in-law\u2019s care, and he asked me to save him.\n\n\n\n

I hurried to her apartment, determined to save him, only to discover an unexpected note on the table.\n\n\n\n

When you answered a call, did it ever make you shiver?\n\n\n\n

Yes, I did.\n\n\n\n

And it seemed as though my life had ended.\n\n\n\n

Let me tell you a little bit about myself and how I got here, though, before I dive into that breathtaking moment.\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m Arlene, a 38-year-old mother of Leo and wife to Brandon, and I adore my life in both roles.\n\n\n\n

My family means a lot to me.\n\n\n\n

People assume I\u2019m kidding when I tell them Brandon wasn\u2019t my high school love.\n\n\n\n

Why? due to the connection we have.\n\n\n\n

The reality is that I got to know Brandon at work, and we quickly found that we had a lot in common. We chose to tie the knot after realising after a few months together that we were destined to be together. My best life decision was to marry him.Brandon once said to me, \u201cArlene, you\u2019re so different from all the other girls I\u2019ve known,\u201d as he stared directly into my eyes.\n\n\n\n

You understand me better than anyone else and are amusing and intelligent.\u201d I responded, \u201cAnd you\u2019re the only one who laughs at my terrible puns, so I guess we\u2019re stuck with each other.\u201d\n\n\n\n

But let\u2019s put our love tale on hold for a later date. After two years, we welcomed Leo into the world as our son.The first time I had him in my arms, I had an emotion I can never quite put into words. I was ecstatic. I had never experienced such unadulterated joy and affection.\n\n\n\n

That day, it felt like my heart expanded tenfold.Leo\u2019s birth delighted Martha, my mother-in-law as well. She made sure Leo knew that he was her first grandson.She used to send him a gift once a week\u2014I\u2019m not kidding! Who, after all, does that?\n\n\n\n

Sincerely, I thought it was a little excessive, so I chose to discuss it with her. I didn\u2019t want to upset her, but after finding out about my emotions, she wasn\u2019t too pleased. \u201cMartha, I appreciate your love for Leo, but don\u2019t you think all these gifts might spoil him?\u201d I enquired.Martha shot back, \u201cWhat nonsense! This is my method of expressing my love to him as my grandchild. While you worry about raising him, let me to indulge him somewhat.\u201d Martha and I disagreed with one other on several matters pertaining to Leo.\n\n\n\n

For instance, when she insisted on letting him watch fireworks on a school night after midnight. I countered, \u201cMartha, he has school tomorrow.\u201dShe shot out, \u201cOh, Arlene, lighten up.\u201d \u201cIt won\u2019t harm to stay up late once. Give the boy a brief respite.\u201d I knew that, in spite of our disputes, Martha cherished Leo. I gave in to Leo\u2019s plea to stay at his grandmother\u2019s place during his school break. I told him, \u201cLeo, promise me you\u2019ll be on your best behaviour with Grandma,\u201d while I was packing his luggage. He answered, his eyes glimmering with anticipation, \u201cI swear, Mom!\n\n\n\n

We will be having a great time!\u201d I took Leo to the other city where Martha resides. I experienced a range of feelings as we approached her home. Leo\u2019s delight made me pleased, but I was also a little nervous about our separation. It was my first time letting him stay at Martha\u2019s.\u201cGrandma will drop you back in two weeks, okay?\u201d As we emptied his baggage, I said.Leo\u2019s expression brightened. \u201cOh, for two weeks? That is scheduled for a Saturday, right? Your birthday? I nodded and grinned. That\u2019s correct, my dear.\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll have my birthday celebration, and Grandma will bring you back.\u201dWe said our goodbyes, and I was excited to get home and spend some peaceful time. But the thought of my baby being gone made me a little depressed. I told myself, \u2018You can always phone him, Arlene.\n\n\n\n

He will be alright. He\u2019s matured into a man now. I had no idea that two weeks later, my worst nightmares would materialise. As I cleaned the house and took some time for myself, time passed quickly. And then my birthday morning came around. My cell phone rang while I was getting ready. Though the number was unknown, I assumed it might be someone wishing me a happy birthday. \u201cHello?\u201d was my enthusiastic response.The next thing I heard chilled my blood. It was the frightened, quivering voice of my son: \u201cMOM, PLEASE come to my aid! I\u2019m terrified! I\u2019M ALONG WITH A MAN IN SOME DARK PLACE AND\u2026\u201dAbruptly, the call ended. Greetings? Leo? Leo?\u201d I yelled into the receiver.\n\n\n\n

The phone was off when I tried to call back. Oh no, no, no, my thoughts went through. Tell me if I\u2019m dreaming, please. Tell me, please, that this is a nightmare. Imaginations of terrible things happened to me. How is this possible to occur? With Martha, wasn\u2019t he supposed to be safe? When I tried to phone her, nobody picked up. I grabbed my keys and ran out the door, not giving the visitors who were meant to be over a second thought. I hurriedly got into my car and drove to Martha\u2019s house, trembling all over the steering wheel.\n\n\n\n

As I raced down the highway, I kept trying Martha\u2019s number, but she never returned my calls. At last, I gave Brandon a call. \u201cBrandon,\u201d I stumbled to say after he replied, \u201cLeo\u2019s had an incident.\n\n\n\n

He sounded so nervous when he called me. Brandon responded, \u201cSlow down, Arlene, slow down.\u201d \u201cWhat did he tell you?\u201d \u201cHe said he was in a dark place with a man,\u201d I was crying. \u201cI tried to call your mother, but she didn\u2019t pick up.\u201d I\u2019m headed over to her house. I\u2019m not sure what\u2019s going on. \u201cOh my\u2026\u201d Shock and fear permeated Brandon\u2019s voice. \u201cI\u2019m about to leave work. Alright, let\u2019s meet at Mom\u2019s house. Arlene, try to remain composed. Drive carefully. We will resolve this.\n\n\n\n

\u201dEven though the two-hour car excursion was meant to be over, it seemed like an eternity. It was the longest two hours of my life, and I will never forget the sense of terror that engulfed me at that moment. I finally stopped in front of Martha\u2019s house with a yell. Unbelievably silent. I approached to the door with my heart hammering against my chest. I was shocked to see it unlocked. I opened it by pushing. \u201cLeo? Martha?\u201d I yelled. Stillness. When I hurried inside and turned on the lights, nobody was there.\n\n\n\n

All I could find on the kitchen island was a piece of folded paper. I lifted it up, hands shaking. The two words printed on it, \u201cHAPPY BIRTHDAY!\u201d caused my eyes to enlarge.All of a sudden, individuals were streaming out of the house\u2019s corners. Leo, Brandon, Martha, my family, and friends. They all yelled, \u201cA surprise! Arlene, happy birthday!\u201d I was still as I stood there. The relief I felt upon seeing Leo rushing towards me, smiling broadly and safe and sound, is beyond words. However, the relief was soon followed by bewilderment and rage.\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2026 what\u2019s going on?\u201d I stumbled and gave Leo a tight hug. Looking a little remorseful, Brandon approached. \u201cWe wanted to give you a birthday surprise. Since we are aware of your dislike of large gatherings, we felt this would be a great way to commemorate.\u201dMartha said, \u201cActually, that was entirely Leo\u2019s idea. He desired to give his mother something truly memorable.\u201d Leo was beaming up at me when I looked down at him.\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom, did you enjoy the surprise? I spent days honing that terrified voice!\u201d I couldn\u2019t decide if to laugh or cry. The last few hours of terror and dread were still very much with her. But as soon as everyone was here, happy and safe, the stress started to lessen.\u201cI almost had a heart attack because of all of you,\u201d I shook my head. Brandon gave me a strong hug. We truly apologise for frightening you. All we wanted to do was make your birthday one to remember.\u201d \u201cWell, mission accomplished,\u201d I said, managing to crack a smile at last.\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is definitely a birthday I\u2019ll never forget.\u201d After the first shock subsided, I was surrounded by laughter and affection.Gratitude for having such loving, if perhaps misguided, relatives and friends gradually overcame my resentment. Now that I\u2019m looking back, I can chuckle about it. But I got them to swear that they wouldn\u2019t play a prank like that ever again. Saying \u201cHappy Birthday!\u201d isn\u2019t as dramatic as it once was. Have you ever been so astonished by someone?\n\n\n\n