http://www.local6.com/family/9331226/detail.html
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A 6-year-old boy who was accidentally left behind by his mother after they celebrated his birthday at a Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant will temporarily live with relatives while the state determines whether he can return home.
Michael James Emanuel Jr. has been in state custody since Saturday night. His mother, Lacqetta Monroe, has said she didn't notice he was missing until Sunday morning. Each relative at the party thought the child was with another family member, they told police.
Bah. Get a spine. I was left at a funeral home - twice - as a kid. The first time I was 6 and it was my great grandmother's funeral. The second time I was 10 and it was my grandfather's funeral. I turned out just fine (okay, that part might be debatable) and no one tried to terminate my parent's custody. Of course this was in 1980 too. The scenario was almost identical: my parents thought I was with one of my aunts & uncles, and they all thought I was with my parents. Once they all got back and gathered at my grandmother's house it took them at least 5 hours each time to realize I wasn't there.
I'm pretty sure being the only living person (the parlor closed for the day) in a house of dead folks at 6 years old is much worse than being left at Chuck E Cheese. At least this kid had games and pizza. I had nothing but a hot chocolate machine that was right next to the embalming room downstairs, the door of which was always left open to air out. On the plus side, by the second time it happened I already knew my way around since they were both at the same parlor.
