I am finally able to breathe freely again.

Why is it that small children LOVE to hide in the middle of clothing racks in stores? Seriously? What *is* the appeal?

The girls and I were at the mall this afternoon. Alex was browsing the junior section of this particular (giant) store.

Phoebe had been darting in and out of the racks when suddenly I realize that the darting had ceased. I called out for her. Nothing. I looked in racks and called out some more. Nothing.

Normally, she would giggle when I would say, “I wonder what happened to Phoebe?” Nothing.

Alex crawled on the floor looking for feet in the racks. I sent her out to the play area to see if she went out there. Nope. One of the employees was getting on the radio to try and help find her. I was really starting to panic and felt like I could not breathe. OMG!!!

Then, I noticed the pants move. OMG!!! She was still hiding in a rack of jeans. They reached the floor hiding her completely. Her little blonde head bobbed within the center of the jeans. I reached through the pants and pulled her out. I was simultaneously completely relieved and extremely angry. She was okay. Nothing had happened. Then why the hell had she not answered when I called, repeatedly, for her? She said she thought it was not me calling.

She was not more than two feet away from me the remainder of the time. I seriously considered one of those kiddie-leashes. I am so thankful that it was nothing. For her.

For me, it was one of the most frightening few minutes ever.