Melvin Cooley and Tequila Fuller aren't interested in the flashy cars at the North American International Auto Show this week. Instead, they have coloring books, a television and a DVD player.
The two security guards from Gallagher Security Inc. of Pontiac - Cooley is 39, and Fuller is 27 - run the room for missing children near the Macomb doors at the show.
Just three days into the public show, they've helped plenty of children who have gone astray: They had 13 missing kids on Saturday and eight more on Sunday. By noon Monday, there had already been one - an 8-year-old boy who got separated from his Cub Scout troop.
He watched a DVD with the guards and 20 minutes later, a grateful adult took him back out for more car gazing.
By 5 p.m., the guards had five more kids to watch.
QUESTION: How did you get this babysitting gig?
Cooley: I actually filled out an application, and this is where they put me. Of course, I wanted the assignment. It's very important.
Q: Do you have any experience with this?
Cooley: I have six kids - five boys and a girl.
Fuller: Three boys.
Q: What do you do when the kids are brought in?
Cooley: First of all, I ask them if they know their mother or father's cell phone. I get a description of what they're wearing and radio it out.
Q: Are they usually upset?
Cooley: The longer they sit here, that's when they start asking: "Where's my mom" or "Where's my dad?"
Q: What do you do to comfort them?
Fuller: I talk to them. I color with them and try to be a mother to them.
Q: What's the longest you've ever had a kid back here?
Cooley: Four to five hours.
Q: Wow, that long?
Fuller: Sometimes, the parents try to find the kids themselves instead of asking for help.
Q: You've got a good array of DVDs. How are they chosen?
Fuller: I bring them from home. Lots of kiddie movies: "Chicken Little," "Shrek" and "Shrek 2." I also brought in "Spider-Man 2."
Q: Who brought in the coloring books?
Detroiters Tequila Fuller, 27, and Melvin Cooley, 39, show the area where they keep missing children until someone comes to gets them. The pair, who have nine children between them, keep coloring books and DVDs in the room to keep the kids occupied. |
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Fuller: Management.
Q: The parents must be appreciative.
Cooley: They're always very thankful. It's a great service. They should have it at all
sporting events.
Q: You ever have a kid act up?
Cooley: Yeah. Last year, we had this kid who wanted to leave. He came in here on his own, so he felt like he should be able to leave on his own. He got pretty upset because you need a parent or guardian's signature to get out of here.
Q: Any advice for parents bringing kids to such a crowded place?
Cooley: Set up a meeting place or note our location when you get here: behind the Honda exhibit.
