Ashley: Finding a Way Home

One March evening, Ashley called the National Runaway Switchboard from a pay phone. She ran away from home the day before and was upset and frustrated. Ashley stayed at a friend’s house the first night but left in the morning before the school bus came. She bought a train ticket for as
far as she could go with the money she had, saving only a few dollars. Finding herself in an unfamiliar place, she walked around town all day trying to avoid truant officers and anyone on the street including other kids.

Ashley went into a diner for some fries and saw the National Runaway Switchboard number on a poster.  She didn’t call right away but as nightfall approached, she didn’t know who else could help her. She decided to call just to find out if maybe there was a safe place for her to stay.

When Ashley called the National Runaway Switchboard, Melissa answered the phone. Melissa had been volunteering with the Switchboard for over a year and was very familiar with kids in Ashley’s situation.  Ashley and Melissa talked openly about all the fighting going on at home. Ashley’s mom and dad were recently divorced and Ashley said she couldn’t take the stress. She felt like her parents didn’t even care about her anymore. This was Ashley’s first time running away from home.

Melissa offered to take a message from Ashley and deliver it to her mom for her. Ashley’s message was: “I’m okay right now. I want to come home. I hope we can talk.”

To protect Ashley’s confidentiality, Melissa gave the message to Brian to deliver. Brian got a hold of Ashley’s mom and they talked about the situation at home. Her mom was relieved to find out that she was okay and very much wanted her home.

Ashley’s mom left this message for Ashley, “Please come home. Your dad and I miss you and love you. I know things have been hard, but I promise we will work them out.”

When Ashley called back to pick up her mom’s message, it was already dark and Ashley was worried about what to do. She didn’t want to sleep on the street and she had no money left for food. Ashley decided she was ready to come home but didn’t know how she would get there. Megan, another liner, helped Ashley talk with her mom and Megan offered them a Home Free ticket.

Megan made the Home Free arrangements with Greyhounds Lines, inc. and got Ashley on a bus leaving within the next two hours. Megan also arranged for a police officer to accompany Ashley to the bus depot so she got there safely. Ashley’s mom called her dad and they decided they would both go to the Greyhound station to pick up the next day.

When the National Runaway Switchboard placed a follow-up call to Ashley’s family two weeks later, Ashley was feeling better. She said they had an appointment with the counselor the liner had recommended for later that week. Ashley said things were still hard sometimes, but everyone, including her, was really making an effort.

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