Chapter 6 - What Simone called discipline
Simone’s version was coherent.
That made it harder.
Eli had become defiant after our marriage.
True.
He ignored chores.
Sometimes.
He lied about homework once.
True.
He stayed up gaming after midnight.
True.
He resented her.
Sometimes openly.
He said:
“You’re not my mom.”
True.
She said she imposed:
Device restrictions.
Earlier bedtimes.
Extra chores.
Loss of social privileges.
All normal in principle.
Then she admitted:
“When he tried to walk away while I was talking, I held his arm.”
Held.
“How hard?”
“I don’t know.”
“He bruised.”
“I bruise easily too.”
Not an answer.
She admitted blocking his bedroom doorway.
“I needed him to listen.”
She admitted taking his phone overnight.
“I’m his parent when you’re gone.”
Not legally parent.
Stepparent.
Household caregiver.
Different.
Then:
“I searched because I believed he was hiding something dangerous.”
“What?”
“A second phone. Drugs. Something.”
At twelve?
Possible.
But there was no evidence.
I asked:
“Why did you say ‘where is it’?”
She looked at me.
“You heard?”
“Yes.”
Her expression shifted.
“I suspected he was keeping notes about me.”
There.
Finally.
“Why would that scare you?”
“Because he twists everything.”
“If he twists everything, the notes should help establish that.”
May you like
She did not answer.
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