Off the Cuff / My Other Journal

Enigma

A friend from Long Island phoned and told me that, yesterday, a woman of about 40 years of age called the police to report her child missing. The child had some kind of an illness or a developmental problem, I am not sure which, and the mother sounded frantic during the 9-1-1 call. This caused a serious search and police time, but the call was a hoax and the child was home safe all through the frenzy.
There some things that stun me when I hear them because they are so trite. This is definitely one of them.
I have been thinking why would this woman, obviously not a teenager, want to attract so much attention. Is she mentally ill? Did she become overwhelmed with the care of a sick child, and as a result, lost it?
If this is a prank, it has no sense. A person should never take valuable police time, because she is taking away from those who really need it. Anyway I look at it, I can't seem to find a good answer. My reasoning, however, tilts toward the overwhelmed mother syndrome.
In any case, this mother is an enigmatic character. the whys of her behavior should be explored further, I think.

Poets' Practice Pad  [18+] #1013410 Write poetry from prompts just for the fun of it; formal or free verse, you pick. by Joy