I was really little and did something dumb. Have you ever done something dumb that seemed so right in the moment, that you didn't think would have consequences? Well...here ya go...this is one of those moments.
So, I wasn't arrested, and never have been, but I was detained and asked some very important questions...
My family was visiting Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Florida (of course...because that's where WDW is...).
I was riding in a car/cart with dozens of other people and my sister was riding in the car/cart in front of me. I didn't want to be in my cart. I wanted to be in my sister's. We were both old enough that we didn't have to stick with my parents and I was supposed to be with her. Your judgement at 9 years old isn't that great, let me just say that up front. The carts we were in had the purpose of showing WDW guests all of the park from up above. It wasn't the ride where you're in a bucket suspended from a wire-it was around at the time and still running, but it wasn't that one. It was a ride where you were above everyone and went around the park, going through the tops of buildings to see the insides, etc. Well, transitioning from the outside to the inside, while it was dark, I decided it would be the best time to crawl from one cart to the cart where my sister was. Not but a few seconds after I had successfully made the transition, the ride came to an abrupt stop.
A security guard quickly apprehended me.
I believe my sister came with me, but at the time, I know I was pulled to the side, outside of the view of any strangers, just outside of the "stage." Having worked at WDW's Animal Kingdom, I had the opportunity to walk backstage many times to cut through the park much faster than the guests. He exercised his authority. He asked me if I wanted to be kicked out of the park forever. Of course, as a 9 year old, that was the worst possible thing in the world, especially when you have no way of finding your parents and neither did security. I told him I didn't want to be kicked out and that I would never do that again. He let me go back into the park where I met up with my sister. I don't remember much of what happened after that, but I now think back as an adult and wonder what in the world I would have done in his shoes. There really wasn't too much he could have done other than either let me go or hold onto me in the front until my parents came looking for me. I'm glad I got to go back into the park.
At that age, if my dad had found out, I probably would have had his belt against my backside a few times.
As it turned out, I don't think my parents found out...I could be wrong, but I don't remember ever getting punished for it.
So no, I wasn't arrested, but I was detained. I've never been arrested, so to speak. How about you? Been put in the pokey? I've been there to pick up a brother-in-law, but never been put into it. I live my life a little too clean for that, I suppose...
