READFIELD -- A local teen reported missing several days ago was found safe Tuesday at a friend's house.

David Robinson, 16, had been staying with friends in the area, said his mother, Tracy Robinson.

A father of one of those friends, who was unaware Robinson had run away but knew where he was staying, called police Tuesday after seeing a flier Tracy Robinson had posted throughout the area.

Police picked him up Tuesday morning.

"David said he was kind of shocked," Tracy Robinson said.

David Robinson wrote a note telling his parents they would never see him again before leaving his Terrapin Drive home with just an extra pair of sneakers and his bicycle last week.

Robinson, who was last seen at home before he went to bed around 9:30 p.m. July 1, was spotted the next morning at Readfield Family Market. His family and police had been searching for him since.

The Robinsons adopted David, who is to begin his junior year at Maranacook Community High School in the fall, when he was 5. He signed the note to his family by his birth name, David Crocker, leaving Tracy Robinson to fear the worst.

"To me, that was a sign of separation," Tracy Robinson said Monday. "I think it sounded like he was done with life."

David Robinson and family members are scheduled for counseling this week, she said.

She said she is very thankful to those who helped with the fliers, particularly Copies Etc., in Manchester, which donated the material and labor for making the posters bearing David Robinson's photo and description.

"That was above and beyond," she said.

Craig Crosby--623-3811, ext. 433

ccrosby@centralmaine.com