Chapter 14 - Peter Makes a Mistake
My mistake came during a supervised exchange.
Reena approached me in the parking lot.
She was not supposed to discuss case there.
But she did.
“You’re enjoying this.”
I laughed.
Wrong.
“You think raising them makes you Aaron.”
That hit.
“Stop.”
“You never had a family of your own, so now you get his.”
I stepped closer.
Not touching.
Still.
“Say that again.”
She did.
“You wanted his life.”
I lost temper.
“You locked your children in a basement.”
Her face changed.
Other parents turned.
Drew was twenty feet away with supervisor.
He heard.
That mattered.
Reena said:
“You see? This family is violent.”
I wanted to scream.
Instead supervisor intervened.
“Both of you stop.”
Correct.
Later Rachel told me:
“Do not confront Reena during exchanges.”
“I know.”
“You frightened Drew.”
There.
I apologized to him.
“I yelled about something you told adults privately.”
Drew looked down.
“I said basement.”
“Yes.”
“Was secret?”
“No. But it’s your story, and I should not shout it in parking lots.”
He thought.
“Mom mad.”
“Yes.”
“Because me?”
“No.”
“Sure?”
“Yes.”
Again.
Children absorb causality.
I had to become careful with truth.
May you like
Even true accusations can be used carelessly.
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