The Blogs: My son’s backpack was shot and that wasn’t even the craziest part of the story | Sarah Tuttle-Singer
A mother recounts how her son's yellow backpack, left under a willow tree at his preschool, was mistaken for a suspicious object by police in Jerusalem and shot, leaving a bullet hole through the lion design. The police tracked her down via the child's glasses inside. Later, at a store, she coincidentally met the daughter of the woman who reported the backpack. The story highlights the absurdity and vigilance of life in Jerusalem.
A few days ago, the author's son came home from his special-needs preschool without his backpack. The escort assumed it was left in the classroom. Later, the preschool teacher sent a photo of the yellow lion backpack under a willow tree. The author planned to retrieve it the next day. She then received a call from a police officer named Tali, who explained the backpack was found in Gilo, deemed suspicious, and shot by police. It had a bullet hole through the lion's face, but the 1,000-shekel glasses inside were unharmed. The author picked up the backpack from the police station. Later, while buying a new backpack at Max Stock, she told the cashier the story. The cashier revealed her mother was the one who called the police about the suspicious backpack, causing a two-hour street closure. The author wrote apology and thank-you letters. She reflects on the absurdity and the vigilance required in Jerusalem.