Chapter 23 - Sophie’s Apology to Noah
A year after the party, Sophie was ten.
Noah four.
They saw each other regularly because Daniel and I had become friends enough that our children remained connected.
Victoria did not attend every visit.
Sometimes she did under appropriate arrangements.
At a park picnic Sophie said:
“Noah.”
He was building a road in sand.
“What?”
“I’m sorry about your chair.”
He looked up.
“You took.”
“Yes.”
“You give back?”
That was the four-year-old’s legal system.
“There’s no same chair.”
He frowned.
Sophie said:
“I didn’t want to take it.”
Noah shrugged.
“Mommy Vicky say.”
“Yes.”
Then Sophie added:
“I should’ve gotten up.”
Daniel opened his mouth.
I stopped him with a look.
Noah said:
“You scared.”
Sophie stared.
“How know?”
He poured sand into a truck.
“Scared face.”
Children remember.
Sophie nodded.
“Yeah.”
Noah said:
“Okay.”
Then:
“Help road.”
Done.
Later Dr. Harper told Daniel:
“Be careful that Sophie doesn’t adopt responsibility for failing to stop an adult.”
Good.
Sophie’s apology could name her part without making her responsible for Victoria’s decision.
Daniel told her:
“You were nine and your mom was directing you.”
“I still sat.”
“Yes.”
“You can wish you stood up without deciding Noah’s hurt was your fault.”
Complex.
Necessary.
Sophie asked:
“Can both?”
“Yes. Regret and not being responsible for Mom.”
She liked that answer.
May you like
Children deserve moral nuance too.
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