Fall Break - 2023
WARNING: Before reading this, please know that everything turned out fine! This is the story of “Charlie”…. A real life experience from StormRiders…
I had four trips, relatively back-to-back, beginning VERY EARLY in the morning..taking students from Clemson to the airport. I was on my way to pick up Charlie at one of the dorms. I was running ahead of schedule, and I texted Charlie & his mom in a group text to let them know that I would be available earlier if wanted. I had stopped for gas and a cup of dark brew and was still ahead of schedule. I got a “thumbs up” emoji from Charlie and proceeded through the darkness to the dorm. My plan was to get there and wait a few minutes before texting of my arrival, but when I came around the corner, there he was, waiting alone with his duffel bag. I rolled down the window and asked “Are you Charlie?” “Yep!” was the reply, and I said “jump in. It’s just us, so you can sit shotgun!” Charlie got in, I snapped his picture for the group text, and we headed towards that airport. I tend to talk too much, typically, and since I had already had my coffee, I was fully engaged! Charlie was too! We talked and talked! I love getting to know the students.
We were about halfway to the airport when my phone rang. It was Charlie’s mom! I answered the phone, prepared to answer any questions. Getting phone calls from parents during the first trip with me isn’t rare, but I wasn’t prepared for this phone call!
“Are you still in Clemson?”
“No…we are about halfway to Greenville. Why?”
“Well, Charlie is outside still waiting for you. Are you still able to get him?”
*Twilight Zone music*
At this point, you can NOT imagine the pure horror and bewilderment…. With the phone still in my hand, I turned to the passenger sitting next to me and said “Who ARE you?”
Just as puzzled as I was, the response was “Charlie.”
I could still hear the parent on the phone talking but I wasn’t processing any new information at this point…
“I got the picture, but thought you were joking. I don’t know that person!” I could hear the panic in her voice.
Again, I asked the doppelgänger “Who ARE you? What’s your last name?”
When “Charlie” gave me his last name, I started piecing together what had happened.
I don’t remember slapping my forehead, but I’m sure I did! What had I done? Oh my cheese & crackers! I picked up the wrong Charlie! The right Charlie was still outside, alone, in the darkness, waiting for me, and here I was, having a joyful ride with who knows who! Who could have imagined? Who could have predicted that, at THAT dorm, on THAT day, at THAT hour, two students were expecting to be picked up and that they had the same first name?
I finally came to my senses and started going through any and all people I could think of who might be able to get to the “right Charlie” back at the dorm while I transported the “wrong Charlie” to GSP…. I told the parent that I would call someone and would call her right back.
Now, back up 30 minutes. The “wrong Charlie” had been outside waiting for his ride who was late and unresponsive. The “wrong Charlie” had also been keeping HIS mom informed who was also tracking him on Life360. Just as I turned in to the pick up location, he had sent a text asking his ride of his ETA. When I arrived, Charlie put his phone down and never looked at it again… probably because we were both talking so much…. HIS mom, on the other had, was also in panic mode. The last thing she had heard was that her Charlie was outside the dorm in the wee hours of the morning waiting on someone who was late picking up Charlie. But, she did know that he had been picked up because she saw that he was moving down the road on the Life360 app. She texted Charlie several times with “Are you in the car?” “Did you get picked up”, but again, Charlie never saw those texts.
But, when he and I had realized what had happened, and while I was desperately trying to find someone to go back to pick up MY Charlie, the “wrong Charlie” texted his mother, without thought of the impact of his text: “I got in the wrong car.” I’m sure she was freaking out!
Moments later, MY Charlie was able to secure an Uber (this was a miracle at this hour of the morning in Clemson) and I finally began to breathe again. I started talking to my passenger again, and he told me that he told his mom that he just got in the wrong car. He didn’t seem to understand how that idea would have sent terror through his mom’s heart! I said “use my phone and call your mom”.
I got in touch with the “wrong Charlie”’s mom, and was able, I think, to give her some peace and assurance. I said that I was NOT abducting him, not a stalker… but explained what had happened…
Both Charlies made it to the airport. Both parents eventually got back to sleep, and I’ve now learned to check both first AND last names for those I don’t already know. Lordy Lordy!
True confessions….
Don’t judge, please.
