Chapter 21 - TOMMY ASKS ABOUT HIS DADDuring a follow-up appointment, Tommy wore a proper removable boot.
The pressure injuries were healing.
Bone alignment remained good.
He asked:
“Is Dad in jail?”
I looked at Laura.
She nodded for me to answer only medically.
Smart.
“I don’t know where your dad is today.”
“Did you call the police?”
“Yes.”
“Because of the key?”
“Because we were worried about your leg and your safety.”
He thought.
“Am I in trouble?”
“No.”
“For hiding stuff?”
“No.”
He stared at the boot.
Then:
“I hurt my own leg with the key.”
That hit me.
“You didn’t know it would hurt you.”
“But it did.”
“Yes.”
“Was that my fault?”
I crouched so we were closer to eye level.
“The injury from the key happened because it was trapped under the cast. You were trying to keep something safe. The adults are responsible for making sure you never have to hide important things inside something that can hurt your body.”
He absorbed maybe half.
May you like
Six-year-olds do not need courtroom philosophy.
They need repetition.
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