in which I was truly scared

This morning started off like any other and Jake went off to school--a few minutes early, even. He walks since we're practically across the street (he has to walk down past three houses on our street [and in our new development, houses are only 15 feet apart], around the corner past a couple more homes, and cross the street [and walk right into school]). It takes three minutes to get there, at most.

So when the school's phone number showed up on my caller-id, I wondered if he get hurt or sick. I was rather surprised when a computerized voice came on and told me that he was absent today, please call the attendance line and give a reason.

First, confusion. Absent? What? No, he left on time.

Second, realization. ABSENT! But he left on time!

Third, panic. Holy shit, he didn't make it to school. WHY?

Thankfully while half my brain was sliding into blind panic and horrifying imaginations, the other half called the school. While waiting on hold for the secretary to call up to his teacher and see what was going on, the working side was trying to formulate a plan. First, call the police. Second, restrain other side from running down the street screaming for him--knock on doors. Third.....

It was all a mistake. There's another Jacob in his class whose last name also begins with a "W" and she marked it wrong on their attendance sheet.

Immediate relief. He's safe! Relief to know my brain won't entirely shut down in an emergency.

Now to stop shaking.