MY BROTHER HIT MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD SON WITH A BOAT TRAILER—THEN MY PARENTS RAN TO CHECK THE DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER BEFORE THEY CHECKED WHETHER MY CHILD COULD MOVE
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Chapter 19 / 25
Chapter 19 - Derek Meets Sophie
Eli decided Uncle Derek could meet Sophie.
His choice.
Derek was sixty-two.
He had no children.
No entitlement.
He asked:
“Are you sure?”
Eli:
“Yes.”
Sophie called him “Great-Uncle Derek” badly.
He laughed.
They colored.
At one point she ran toward driveway after ball.
Derek froze.
Then walked quickly, stopped her, brought back.
No panic.
No yelling.
Eli watched.
Later:
“You okay?”
Derek:
“Yeah.”
Then:
“I still see gravel sometimes.”
Eli nodded.
“Me too sometimes.”
Two people carrying same event differently.
Then Derek said:
“I wish I could erase.”
Eli:
“I don’t.”
Derek looked surprised.
“Why?”
“Because then you’d still be idiot.”
They laughed.
Humor earned through consent.
Then:
“It doesn’t control me.”
That was difference.
May you like
Derek nodded.
Then no more.
