My mom made me do something I hated as a kid that might have saved my life

When I was a kid, we lived in suburban Salt Lake City. I got bored staying inside a lot so I always was outside playing in the woods nearby. It wasn't too far of a walk and I always had a little horn thing I was to blow if I was in trouble because it made a really loud noise. I also always carried a walkie talkie so my parents could find me.<br><br><br>I was a very shy, timid kid and not good at making friends. There was a kid in the neighborhood who was in my grade at school. He was always really nice to me and would ask me to play. Let’s call him Ryan. He was a little bit overweight and not popular at all but he was so nice.<br><br><br>One day, Ryan had a little birthday party at his house and invited me. He was so excited to have me come and I didn’t want him to feel bad. My parents said it was fine to go but only if I brought my radio. I didn’t think it would be a problem because his house was right next door. I knew the way and wouldn’t be walking through the woods.<br><br>I forget what we did at the party but I think it was just mostly in his basement. I didn’t have a great time because I already felt so weird. I was never good at interacting with other kids, especially kids I didn’t know. I wanted to leave but didn’t know how to without hurting his feelings. I was always really conscious of that stuff.<br><br>The party ended and all the kids left. Then it was just me and Ryan. We were hanging out in his backyard. He asked if I wanted to walk in the woods with him and I said no, I wanted to go home.<br><br><br>He had this weird smile on his face and said he thought we were friends but that’s fine, I can go. I didn’t respond and started walking through his lawn toward the street. I walked across the street to my house and opened the front door.<br><br>My dad was in the living room. I told him I wasn’t going to Ryan’s house again because he made me feel weird. My dad asked why and I told him Ryan had this weird smile on his face when I left. He asked me exactly what he said and I told him.<br><br>My dad said that wasn’t very nice and that we wouldn’t hang out with him again. I agreed and went to my room.<br><br><br>I stopped seeing Ryan at school. I don’t know what happened to him and I don’t really care. I hope he’s okay but that’s it.<br><br><br>It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized what would have happened if I went in the woods with Ryan. I now know what my dad was trying to do. I got so upset with my parents for making me carry that stupid radio everywhere. I was mortified to carry that thing but it might have saved me.<br><br>Ryan would have probably raped and/or murdered me in those woods and no one would have found me because my parents couldn’t locate me. My dad made me do something I hated but he might have saved my life.