**BREAKING: Local Teen’s Wild Ride Ends in Epic Adventure, Parents Still Breathing**
In a bizarre incident that has left authorities and parents alike scratching their heads, 17-year-old Jenny Johnson allegedly hitchhiked with her family’s babysitter, 22-year-old Alex, and then caught a bus to Indianapolis, all without her parents’ knowledge or consent.
According to eyewitnesses, Jenny and Alex were seen thumbing for rides on the side of the road, sporting matching “I’m with Stupid” t-shirts and what appeared to be a carefully crafted escape plan.
“I was driving to get a large coffee and I saw them by the side of the road, giving thumbs up to every car that passed,” said local resident, Karen Jenkins. “I thought to myself, ‘Those kids are either really brave or really, really stupid.'”
As it turns out, it was a bit of both.
After hitching a ride with a kindly truck driver named “Bubba,” who reportedly regaled them with stories of his extensive collection of neon-green socks, Jenny and Alex arrived in Indianapolis, where they allegedly spent the night at a local hostel, living their best lives.
“We had no idea they were even gone,” said Jenny’s mom, still trying to process the events. “I mean, I knew they were planning a sleepover, but I thought it was just at a friend’s house… not on the other side of the state!”
Jenny and Alex were eventually tracked down by authorities, who found them sipping Frappuccinos at a busy coffee shop, looking remarkably pleased with themselves.
When asked for comment, Jenny quipped, “Hey, we just wanted to see the world… and get a good Instagram story out of it.”
The incident has left parents and authorities scrambling to reevaluate their safety protocols and begging the question: what’s the best way to keep your teenager from becoming an accidental adventurer?
In related news, local babysitters are now demanding hazard pay.
