Borders Book Store on Broadway in NYC

Received Wednesday, May 9, 2007
This occurred Tues 5/8 at the Borders on Lower Broadway-right near Trinity Church. This happened between 4:30 and 5:15 ish. I was reading to my charge when a little girl of about 30-36 months appeared and was swaying behind my charge listening to the story. She was causing no harm. I looked around for her nanny or parent and saw no one. I continued reading. The little girl started twirling my girl's hair {playing with it between her fingers}. She is semi listening to me read, perhaps 2-4 minutes pass. Then the little girl interrupts and says, "can you take me to the bathroom?". I said, "you have to go to the bathroom?". She answered "yes". I said, "Who are you here with?" The little girl says nothing. I say, "do you need help to find your mommy?". She says, "no, not my mommy". I said, "are you here with your nanny?". She says, "No with mommy but ...{indecipherable}". I am about to offer to help her find her mom when an ashy haired woman, about 5'6 in black pants, with black pumps and a red sweater snatches the girl by the hand harshly. The woman says, "I told you not to move-why did you move?". The little girl says, "I said I have to go to the bathroom". The mother said, "You always have to go the bathroom, don't you? It never ends". The mother is now dragging the little girl away and lamenting her {in a way that is clearly inappropriate for a child so young}. The mother, {cold as ice} doesn't even glance in my direction. Never says word one to me. I felt bad for the little girl, but could do nothing more so I picked up my charge, put her on my lap and continued reading the story. Ten minutes later, we are leaving and what do I see? The same mother in the magazine section {the section with House Beautiful type magazines}. The little girl is standing right next to her not moving at all. She has the saddest look on her face and a big wet spot on the front of her little pink pants and down one thigh. The little girl had a sweet, round face, delicate curls, a white, grey and pink long sleeve shirt on and was very pretty. I hope that the little girl's FATHER or grandparents or NANNY sees this posting so they can take appropriate action. The oblivious mother's ashy hair had white looking highlights and was loosely curled. She was about 5'6" and maybe 125 lbs. The little girl was wearing white tennis shoes with a graffiti design on them.