Family
Viola’s Golden Knight
©
by
Stephen A. Peterson
While walking home from Shawnee Junior High School in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Viola thought she could hear footsteps behind her. The thought of being followed caused her heart to beat faster. “Oh, stop being a paranoid.” She told herself, it’s just your imagination. Nobody’s following you. This is Shawnee, Oklahoma. Small town U.S.A.” Still a fear of being followed consumed her thoughts. To ensure her safety, Viola began to walk faster but the footsteps, imagined or real, kept pace with her. Very afraid, she began to run towards her house. “Lord Jesus,” she prayed, “let me please get home safe. I’m so scared!”
As Viola approached her house, she could see the flickering gas lamp in front of her house. Now on the porch, she quickly stuck the key in the keyhole opening the door as fast as she could open it. Once inside, she leaned against the front door for a brief moment as her heart raced. She then peeked out the window to see if anyone was on or near the porch. No one was there. After dropping her books on the couch, Viola breathed a sigh of relief, made herself a midday snack, and went to her room to get online.
With snack and drink in hand, she logged in on the internet under her screen name—indianrose04. She checked her buddy list and saw Golden Knight 88 was on. She then sent him an instant message.
Indianrose 04: Howdy! Glad to see ya! A weird thing happened while I was on my way home. I thought I was being followed.
Golden Knight 88: Huh! Why would anybody be following you? Don’t you live in a town that’s really safe and in a pretty good neighborhood?
Indianrose 04: Yeah. I guess it was just my imagination cuz’ there was nobody outside when looked out my window.
Golden Knight 88: There’s no way to know who you are and where you live unless you told somebody. Did you do that?
Indianrose 04: No, I wouldn’t do that! I’d have to be pretty dumb.
Golden Knight 88: Rosy how was your day?
Indianrose 04: Pretty good.
Golden Knight 88: How so?
Indianrose 04: There was a basketball game after school today that I played in. We won!
Golden Knight 88: Who’d you play?
Indianrose 04: We beat the Savages. LOL. Their uniforms are soooo ugly and gross!
Golden Knight 88: What is your team called, Rosy?
Indianrose 04: We’re the Shawnee Lady Cubs! We wear really cute blue or white uniforms with paw prints on the side of our pants. Our numbers are really cute, too! My number four look like those of the University of Oklahoma Sooners! Whoa!
Golden Knight 88: What is your position on the team? I’ll bet you’re a shooting guard!
Indianrose 04: Nah! I’m a forward. Well, I gotta git! I’ve got to get my homework and housework done before my parents get home. I don’t wanna be grounded. Bye!
Golden Knight 88: Check ya’ out later!
In the meantime, while Indianrose 04 and Golden Knight 88 were chatting, Golden Knight 88 began looking for her profile. When it came up, he highlighted it then printed her information. What he learned was that very day was:
Her name: Viola
Her birthday: May 21, 1990
Age: 14
State: Oklahoma
Interests and Hobbies: basketball, going to the mall with her friends, shopping, roses, necklaces
In addition to this information, he knew she lived in Shawnee, Oklahoma because she unknowingly told him. He also knew she was alone at least until 5:00 PM because that is when she left the website and stated that her parents were not home yet. He knew she played basketball on a team named Shawnee Cubs. He knew she like the number four and that she was in the eighth grade because of her age. All of this from chatting with the Golden Knight. He now had enough information to find her.
Viola didn’t tell her parents anything about being followed on her way from school. She felt that she could take care of herself and did not want her parents to be concerned or worried for her safety.
By Friday, Viola had forgotten about thinking that someone was following her the previous Tuesday. When the next Tuesday came around, Viola was participating in a closely played basketball game. Her coach took her out from the game to give her a little rest. It was then she felt someone staring at her. Suddenly, the events of last Tuesday came back to her. She glanced up from the chair to see a man watching her closely. He sat up, waved and smiled when he looked at her. He didn’t seem threatening so Viola dismissed her concerns placing her thoughts on winning a basketball game.
After the game, he remained in the gym while she talked with the other players on her team. Viola noticed him once again. He waved and smiled once again. He noticed her number and knew he had found her. Then he disappeared into the rest of the crowd. After she changed clothes, Viola left the gym to take her usual walk home. Unaware that she was being followed, Viola walked straight home. Since Viola’s home was only a few blocks from the school, the man was able to go back to his car and go to a local restaurant to get something to eat before he made his move on Viola.
Viola was in her room around 7:00 PM when she heard voices in the living room. “Viola, will you please come here,” her mother called. She sound upset and she could not imagine why. She went into the room to see her mother, father and the man she had seen at the gym sitting on a chair in the living room of her house.
“Viola, please sit down,” her father said, “Viola, this man has just told me and your mother a most interesting story about you.”
Viola moved slowly to a chair then sat down. “How could this man that she never met tell her parents anything about her. She had never seen him before this day.”
“Do you know who I am Viola?” the man asked.
“No.” Viola responded.
“I am a police officer and your online friend, Golden Knight 88.”
Viola was in shock. “That’s not true! Golden Knight 88 is a kid just like me! He’s 14 years old and lives in Florida.”
The police officer smiled. “I know I told you all that stuff but it isn’t true. You see, Viola, there are a lot of people online who pretend to be kids. They want to find unsuspecting kids like you so that they can hurt them. I’m a cop and a parent who is in a special unit in Oklahoma City that watches the website for online child predators. I came here to Shawnee to find you and teach you just how dangerous it is to give out too much information to people on the website. Viola, you gave me enough information about yourself that you made it easy for me to locate you. Last Tuesday, on just one day, you told me the school you went to, your city, your number, that you were home alone at least until 5:00 PM, that you didn’t live far from where you went to school. Viola, you were too easy to find!”
Viola was stunned. “You mean you don’t live in Florida?”
He laughed. “Golly, no! I live in Oklahoma City. I made you think I was far away. I chose this unit in…” Then the officer’s eyes filled with tears, ”Because my best friend had a daughter who was like you in so many ways. She was your age and very pretty like you. Only she wasn’t as fortunate. The man found her home alone, raped her, then murdered her. It was two hours before her mother found her. I promised them I would stop evil people whenever and wherever I can.
Viola, there is nothing wrong with chatting on the website. I teach kids in as many schools as I get in contact with not to tell anyone when the are alone but they do it all of the time online. Men and women are tricky and work hard at get you to talk about yourself. Avoid doing that. What they do is strike up a conversation with you because they believe and know kids have problems with siblings, parents and kids their own age. Then they get you to trust them—Don’t do it. Because before you realize it, they have enough information to find you. If you make a mistake, tell your parents. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to tell them. We all make mistakes. Viola you must promise me, you will do this, please!”
“I will do it. Thanks, Mister Police Officer” as tears weld in her brown eyes. She gave him a gentle hug.
“And, Viola, will you also promise to tell others about what I’ve told you.”
“I promise. And thank you again. I’ll never forget you.”
That evening Viola, her mother and father all knelt down together and prayed in thanksgiving to God. They thanked Almighty God for protecting Viola with her living guardian Angel—Golden Knight 88.
ADDITIONAL NOTE:
Although Viola’s story is fictional, law enforcement reported that in 2003 more than 70% of young persons between the ages 10 through 17 regularly enter chat rooms and receive instant messages from persons they do not know/never met. Of those entering chat rooms and chatting with a person they had never met, more than 2/3 gave their contact at least one piece of information that could lead them to that young person.
Increasingly, more young people are either initiating contact with what law enforcement deems child predators or the predator is making unexpected contact with them. In either case, many of these contacts end in tragedies for all concerned with the needless death of a young person. Although small at this time, the numbers are reportedly growing as predators become emboldened with issues of their perceived civil rights to entice children and teens on the internet.
So what can parents/guardians/grandparents do? I suggest the following:
1. Acquire at least a basic knowledge of computers and how to access the internet and the providers control options.
2. Insure that the computer used for accessing the internet is set up in a common place that is easily accessed by all members of the family.
3. Clearly make it known to all that you intend to monitor the use of the internet just as you would monitor any other of your children’s activities they are engaged in.
4. Determine that you will learn how to use the internet if you don’t know how to use it.
5. Determine that you will discuss your family’s use of the internet during family meetings.
6. Limit the time that is spent on the internet.
7. Teach your children never to give personal information to people they meet online or post on bulletin boards.
8. Teach your children never to meet in person with someone he or she meets on the internet.
9. Teach your children not to respond if they receive offensive or dangerous e-mails, instant messages or in chat rooms.
10. Just don’t communicate with your children, interact with them! Encourage them to feel free to discuss whatever they feel a need to discuss with you. Discuss what they can expect to see on the internet. Because protection from predators, pornography and the like may be found in libraries, schools and at a friends house even you are monitoring your home.
11. If you become worried or concerned that your children or another child is in danger, immediately contact your local authorities. Make a note of the person’s screen name, the time it occurred and what was said, done or sent.
Young persons likewise should:
1. Always use the internet with parental permission.
2. Never, never give out information online such as your name, address, phone number, school, passwords or parent’s name(s). If a mistake is made, immediately tell your parents/guardian/grandparents.
3. Never open or answer e-mails or instant messages from people you don’t know.
4. Never make plans to meet internet “friends” in real life. If someone even suggests it, tell your parents immediately! Do not wait a single day!
5. If someone says or sends you something that makes you uncomfortable or afraid, tell your parents or another trusted adult. They’ll know what to do.
6. Always, always follow your family’s internet rules—they are designed to make sure you have fun and stay safe while you are online.
Using the computer and internet can be wholesome and educational and there is
no reason to fear it or not make use of its possibilities. May God bless one and all!
For additional information regarding this subject go to: www.parenthood.com
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