4-Year-Old Hops On Bus Shivering And Alone At 3 A.M. To Buy Slushie

Dec 21, 2021 by apost team

Some children can be incredibly independent — or at least they think they are. Whether it's wanting to do something themselves or heading off on their own, children can easily think they're more capable than they really are. The following story exemplifies this perfectly, even if it is rather worrying.

In 2015, a 4-year-old girl named Annabelle Ridgeway demonstrated her independence when she decided to leave her family's house alone in order to go and get a slushie. However, it was 3 a.m. when her craving hit, and she found herself out on the streets of North Philadelphia by herself.

Luckily for her mom, Jaclyn Mager, Annabelle got on a bus, and the SEPTA bus driver, Harlan Jenifer, knew something wasn't right. He alerted the authorities, who came to pick Annabelle up and safely escorted her home. Let's take a look at her story.

It was 3 a.m. in late March in 2015 when Annabelle caused a stir one night in North Philadelphia. While Jenifer drove his usual route, at one stop there was a very unexpected rider who got on. She was wet from the rain, and her tiny body was shivering. Jenifer immediately knew she had no place being out alone at 3 a.m.

But why was the little girl out all alone? Apparently, young Annabelle had a 3 a.m craving for a slushie! So she decided to take matters into her own little hands by using the bus to get to a store that sold slushies. Annabelle had put on her raincoat and shoes and snuck out of her family home to get what she craved. 

Once Annabelle was outside, she crossed multiple busy roadways to arrive at one of Jenifer's bus stops on Torresdale Avenue near Cottman in the Tacony neighborhood. That's where a man flagged down the bus, and with the help of the kind stranger who alerted Jenifer, the little girl got on board. 

Jenifer told ABC the thoughts that ran through his head at the moment that he saw the little girl get onto his bus:

"Got to be kidding me! At this time, at 3 o'clock on the morning. She's a small little thing. It kind of just shocked me."

While Jenifer called the police, other passengers comforted the little girl, which is when she revealed what her mission had been all along. Jenifer added:

"She had her mind set ... 'All I want is a slushie,' that's all she said."

Video footage of the bus that was later released showed an animated Annabelle talking with the other passengers, despite it being long past her bedtime. Soon after, the authorities arrived, and within an hour of having left her home, Annabelle was back with her parents — safe and sound. Annabelle's mom called Harlan a hero and credited him with saving her child’s life. Mager told the news outlet:

"There are no words, he saved my daughter's life. I'll be forever grateful."

Meanwhile, Annabelle's father, Timothy Ridgeway, reflected on how easily things could have gone a different way. He said:

"My mind is wanting to go places, it's hard not to. Thank God for the bus driver."  

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Mager said the excursion would be Annabelle's first and last solo adventure, as she repeatedly thanked the driver and other kind strangers who helped to make sure her daughter was safe and able to get home quickly.

The following day Annabelle's parents reconfigured their house's locks so that no other accidental night adventures could take place. For Annabelle, however, her all-important mission was interrupted, and she still wanted a slushie after all. ABC reported that she asked her mother:

"Mom, can you take me to Wawa and get me a slushie?" 

Mager responded:

"I will take you to Wawa and get you a slushie. But listen, promise me next time you'll wait for me, okay?"

The young girl agreed and said "Yeah" while she gave her mom a hug. 

Annabelle's story is a cautionary tale to parents. Things could’ve gone very wrong if she would’ve encountered the wrong person. Thankfully, Jenifer was there, and he kept Annabelle safely on the bus until police could arrive and return her to her parents. A father of three himself, he said that he was scared for the girl but could also see the humor in her adventure for a slushie. Nevertheless, she was in good hands once she hopped on his bus.

Since the story came out in 2015, Annabelle's bus trip video has parents equally amused and terrified by the child’s tenacity. Any parent knows that children can be incredibly determined, especially if they're after a treat of some sort, as was the case in Annabelle's story.   

What did you think about Annabelle’s slushie adventure? Do you know a kid who’s gone to extreme measures when they have something that they want on their mind? Let us know, and don’t forget to pass Annabelle’s story along so that other parents can read about it too.