Chapter 13 - CHLOE’S INTERVIEWWe did not question Chloe repeatedly.
That took effort.
She wanted to tell us.
Children sometimes narrate difficult events over breakfast, in parking lots, while someone is tying a shoe.
But formal questions belonged to trained people.
The child interviewer asked open-endedly:
“Tell me about Grandma’s party.”
Chloe said:
“Grandma said Mommy was being lazy.”
“Then what happened?”
“She said I’m big enough to help.”
“What did you help with?”
“Cups.”
“Anything else?”
“Spoons.”
“How did the water feel?”
“Hot.”
“Did it hurt?”
“No. It was yucky.”
“Did anyone tell you when you could stop?”
“Mommy said stop.”
“What happened?”
“Grandma said no.”
“What did Grandma say about food?”
Chloe remembered clearly.
“No lunch until the dishes are finished.”
“Did you eat?”
“Dad came.”
That sentence hurt.
“Were you scared?”
“Mommy was crying.”
The interviewer did not ask:
Did Grandma hurt you?
Did Grandma force you?
Did Grandma almost burn you?
Those were adult conclusions.
May you like
Chloe gave her experience.
Enough.
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