I always thought that police officers were the protectors, but one night can change everything. My grandma, uncle and I were at a party for my uncle's friend, and they had been drinking during it. I was only about ten at the time and I didn't want to be around a bunch of college students while they were partying. I had been there all day and I just wanted to lay down and sleep. By the time I had woken up, my grandma said that it was time to leave. We went to the car and put everything away as my uncle was saying goodbye to everyone inside. I was pretty tired, and it was late so I got in the car. She went inside to find my uncle and left me there all alone not thinking much of it.  Before I knew it, some car pulled up slowly behind ours. The bright headlights made me freeze in place. I didn't know what or who it was. My heart was pounding as I heard a door open and then shut right after. I quickly ducked down and tried to make it look like no one was in the car. My heart was racing and I thought I was going to be kidnapped. I wished that I had gone inside the warm house with my grandma, but instead I was all alone in a cold car praying nothing bad would happen to me. As the stranger approached my car, they shined a bright light in my face through the window. My blurred vision cleared and I made out a police badge. Some of the weight on my shoulders lifted but I still had fear inside of me. I thought; why is he standing here, did I do something wrong, am I in trouble? These thoughts were interrupted as he spoke up, "Can you please open your door?"

    I didn't feel safe with what he had asked me to do so I replied with,"I'm not supposed to talk to strangers." Apparently he didn't take the hint because he just chuckled.
"I'm not a stranger, i'm a police officer." I felt taken aback. I didn't know what to say so I opened the door. I didn't want to, but I had to.
"Why are you out here by yourself? It's very late." I didn't like him. He almost gave me a heart attack and I felt a bad vibe from him. He might be doing this because he is concerned but I just wished he would leave me alone."Do you need a ride somewhere?"
"No, im waiting for my grandma." I whispered.
"Well where is she?"
"Inside.."
"Why don't you come with me." He said as he put his hand on my back. I completely froze. I wanted to run away but this was a police officer, he'd probably catch me.
"No. I-my grandma, she'll be worried." I had no idea what to say. Police officers and adults always say never to go with a stranger, but he wants me to go with him?
"I think it'll be fine."
I looked over towards the house but no one was coming. Great, i'm getting kidnapped by a cop. I shifted my weight to my other foot to shrug him off my shoulder and then walked past him.
"Everything is going to be okay." He smiled and placed his hand back on me. I looked down at my shivering feet. I'm disappointed in myself. How am I going to let someone take me without a fight? I truly thought this was the end. But sure enough someone appeared, my grandma.
I have never been so thankful to see someone in my whole life. I saw the expression on her face and it looked almost guilty. She swore under her breath as she approached us and greeted the 'officer'.
"Is there a problem here?"
"Oh, you must be grandma. I was just about to take your granddaughter to the station."
"Why would you do that?"
"She looked frightened, she was alone."
"The only thing that frightened her was you!" at this point I was tired, scared, and annoyed.. all I wanted was to go home and forget this ever happened. But that was not the case.
"Have you been drinking miss?" The police officer asked my grandma.
"Maybe a few drinks to celebrate a graduation party but only a few."
"I think it'd be best if I took this young lady with me." He gestured for me to move towards him but I stood behind my grandma shivering.
"Is there a problem here?!" I looked to the loud, slurred voice and saw my uncle walk to us.
"No we're leaving." My grandma simply said leading me in the car.
We piled in and before the officer could say another word my uncle drove off. I sat in the back seat trying to avoid any eye contact with the two. I tried laying down to sleep but as soon as we hit a stop sign a familiar flashing light pulled up behind us. Can't this guy just let it go?
"Excuse me sir, can you please step out of the car."
"You again?"
"Please just do what you're told."
  
      He stepped out the car and stood straight, well he tried to stand straight. My grandma was speaking to me but I had blocked out her voice. I was focusing on these two fools outside the car. They were arguing, yelling in each others faces. The next thing I knew, the cop slammed my uncle on the hood of the car and cuffed him. Grandma hopped out the car running towards him.
"Stop! He didn't do anything wrong."
"Please lady back away."
"That's my son you have there."
"He's being arrested for driving while drunk and assaulting an officer."
"Are you crazy? He didn't do anything." I have never felt so out of place. This was supposed to be a fun night but instead it took a wrong turn down a long road. A few minutes passed and another cop car came up to us and inside my uncle went.
"I'll take you guys home."
"No, take us back to the party."
"Whatever you say." He smiled.

    Once again he put his hands on me and placed me in the back of the car. I felt like a prisoner. The seats were cold and hard. The bars that separated the front from the back made me feel like a trapped animal. I was so uncomfortable. I thought that police officers were supposed to protect you, not make you feel afraid. This man was not right. If my grandma hadn't came outside I fear something bad would have happened. I think he would have taken advantage of me. The way he looked at me, spoke, and even handled things weren't right. Something about him was truly wrong. He made me afraid of cops. I doubt their authority, their 'power', it's too much. I get tense every time a cop is near. I know that not all of them are bad, of course, but I still can't seem to trust them all the way.