Chapter 25 - Mason Comes Over
Sawyer was eight.
Mason ten.
Three years almost.
Mason asked through Andrew if he could come over for a Saturday afternoon.
No Imogen.
Sawyer said:
“Maybe.”
Then:
“Two hours.”
Negotiator.
They played video games.
Then dinosaurs.
Dino came out.
Mason saw repaired seam.
“Note dinosaur.”
Sawyer shrugged.
“Just Dino.”
There.
Past had become adjective, not identity.
At one point Mason went toward Sawyer’s bedroom.
Stopped at door.
“Can I?”
Sawyer looked.
Then:
“Yeah.”
Permission.
Mason entered.
Saw the decals.
Desk.
Books.
Not the old room exactly.
“Cool.”
“Thanks.”
“Remember Mom wanted me have it?”
Sawyer frowned.
“Yeah.”
“Sorry.”
“You already sorry.”
Mason nodded.
Good.
Children dislike adults reopening settled things.
They stayed twenty minutes.
Then returned downstairs.
No one photographed.
No therapy debrief unless needed.
Just cousins.
Not close.
Not enemies.
At pickup Andrew asked:
“Okay?”
Mason said:
“Yeah.”
Sawyer said:
“He cheats.”
Mason:
“You changed rules.”
Normal.
May you like
Beautiful.
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