The extended family had a round table discussion the other day about our two newly teen girl(s) rights on sleep overs. One family was dead set against it while the other family was for it as long as they knew the hosting family. I listened in, remembering my days of sleep overs and then my children's favorite fun time retreat to other kid houses. It was fun, but times are a'changing.
I did a series of articles about child trafficking several months ago and let me tell you when you read what is going on in the world you want to wipe it from your mind. You can read my articles here: https://us.blastingnews.com/editorial-staff/louann-carroll/
Although I had brought up my research on many occasions, I discovered that most people, family included, just don't want to hear about it, much less think about it. And they don't want to talk about it. At least until this weekend and the reason for the family meeting.
Denise Miracle, ticket agent at Sacramento Airport, was honored last week because of an action she took in the summer of 2017. A short synopsis follows.
Two young women ages 15 and 17, appeared at our local airport with airline tickets in their hands. They handed the tickets to Denise Miracle who immediately felt hesitant about taking them. Both girls were alone with little luggage and no guardian in sight. They had no identification on them and the credit card used was in neither girls' name. They said someone named Drey bought them the tickets and that they were going to New York for modeling experience and that they were to be paid 2,000.00 to act in a music video.
Miracle went into action and called the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department. Drew, the ticket purchaser, was contacted by the Sheriff's Department who soon discovered the e-mail account was deleted as was the Instagram account. Both girls admitted they'd lied to their parents and said they were sleeping over at a friend's house.
By the grace of God and a sharp thinking ticket agent, disaster was averted. See story in People here: http://people.com/crime/american-airlines-agent-saves-teen-girls-from-suspected-human-trafficking/
Our family meeting took a decidedly different turn when we discovered what had happened last summer. Both teen girls had been lobbying for social media access to which they were once again denied. Both girls wanted sleep overs and it was decided that they could have them, as long as they had them at home.
While I understand my granddaughter and niece's disappointment, they are far too precious to risk to the world of the Internet. I even encouraged their parents to restrict access to YouTube and while that may be considered over the top, I can assure you the parents of the two girls in the story are wishing they had taken better action much earlier.
A word to the wise: Be careful out there. There are monsters among us.