Chapter 7 - The Muddy Duffel
Garrett sent me a list of damaged property.
Not through lawyer.
Text.
Laptop charger.
Two shirts.
Fleece.
Sleeping bag liner.
Medication pouch.
Most washable.
One pair of expensive binoculars damaged by mud because side pocket opened.
Total claimed replacement:
$2,860.
My first instinct:
Send him a dollar.
Instead I asked for receipts.
He did.
Actual reasonable loss after cleaning:
$1,340.
I paid.
No apology in payment memo.
Just reimbursement.
Then called.
“I shouldn’t have thrown your bag.”
Garrett went quiet.
“Thank you.”
“Doesn’t change anything else.”
“I know.”
This time the phrase did not irritate me.
Maybe because he used it correctly.
Then:
“I should pay for Sorrel’s tent.”
“You should.”
Replacement:
$119.
He sent $200.
I returned $81.
Precision.
No guilt money.
Sorrel chose a new tent online.
Red.
He asked:
“Uncle buy?”
“Partly.”
“Why?”
“Because Grandma broke the old one and Uncle was part of what happened.”
“Grandma pay?”
I almost laughed.
“Not yet.”
“She should.”
Correct.
Eudora later sent $119.
No note.
I accepted for Sorrel.
Accountability can include replacing damaged property without restoring relationship.
He named the new tent:
Red Base.
May you like
Children recover through terrible naming.
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