Chapter 16 - My Mistake With June’s Baptism
June’s baptism? We hadn't mentioned religious. Better naming ceremony? Let's do first birthday planning. But need Nora's mistake elsewhere.
I overcorrected.
Important.
When June was four months old, Wesley’s aunt sent a knitted blanket.
I returned it.
Why?
It had HALE embroidered.
Nothing else.
I saw possession.
Wesley said:
“It’s a blanket.”
I said:
“It’s her surname.”
“Part of it.”
I accused his family of marking territory.
He walked away.
Later Dr. Keller asked:
“Did sender participate in collar plan?”
No.
“Has she crossed boundaries?”
No.
“Then what did you protect June from?”
My fear.
There.
I apologized to the aunt.
Asked if she wanted blanket back or could resend.
She mailed it again with note:
No leash included.
I laughed despite myself.
That was healthy humor.
Consent.
No target trapped.
I needed to learn difference between boundary and total contamination.
Not every Hale object was control.
Not every joke was Margaret.
May you like
Otherwise Margaret still controlled family through my fear.
────────────────────
