Lost Stroller Baffles Georgetown: Residents Blame… Probably the Dad

Georgetown life is fascinating. Our urban existence obliges us to be historic custodians, close neighbors, walkers, parallel parkers and constant observers.  However, the most interesting behavior of those is that we always seem to be watching and witnessing. The tides of Georgetown change and we adapt. Like David Attenborough, we watch, we anticipate, we plan.  We know our neighbors’ habits and we look out for one another.

We peer out our doors in pajamas to see if the trash men have come so we can take in the cans, we look out windows to gauge the traffic, we listen for the mail through the slot, we keep an eye out for porch deliveries, we know if someone let their dog poop in our tree box, and we witness, sometimes chuckling, at the struggles of out-of-town parallel parkers. And so it goes.

Then one day recently, my husband and I noticed a stroller on the sidewalk in front of our house, just sitting there by a car.  One would assume someone is returning soon to fetch it or put it in the trunk. Someone probably had to carry the child in the house but with hands full had to abandon the stroller for a few minutes.  My husband says I am a master at “making stuff up” about people’s lives or intentions as I observe them.  “They are on a first date,” I will say about the couple next to us at dinner, but my husband, who apparently won’t humor me and wants facts says, “you don’t know that” but I keep watching to see if there is a love connection.

Ok, back to the stroller. Two days later, the stroller is still there. I sent my husband out to inspect. He returns with a zip lock bag containing Pirate’s Booty children’s snacks and an empty bag of Skittles but no identifying information. We decide to throw the baggie away to avoid tempting any rodents. There is also a customer number for Boulangerie Christophe in the stroller but we assume the family is not still waiting in line two days later.

We ask our neighbors, but no one knows to whom the stroller may belong to, although they also noticed it sitting there. The car it was sitting beside has gone but the stroller remains, day after day, so I decide to inspect it closer for any identifier (if my husband can’t find the cheese in the refrigerator then perhaps he missed a clue). There is nothing.  Now I am off and speculating and, to my surprise, my husband starts joining in.

Theory 1 – the family came into Georgetown to trick or treat and the dad (always  “the dad” in my story) took the child out of the stroller, put the child in the car seat behind the driver’s seat and then drove away.

Theory 2 – The dad was told to get the kids out of the house so he drove into Georgetown, loaded them with sugar at Boulangerie Christophe and left the stroller behind.

Theory 3 – The family lives in Georgetown, the dad, again, was to return to the sidewalk and place it in the trunk and forgot. They have another stroller they use daily around the neighborhood.

Days and days go by, what do we do about the stroller?  Two weeks in and at some point I guess we will donate it. I am convinced though that somewhere someone is going to open their trunk and say “Oh crap, where’s the stroller?” Probably the dad.

tagsBoulangerie Christophechildren's strollercity lifeGeorgetowngeorgetownersstrollerurban life