Chapter 23 - Frank and Ethan
Dad’s relationship with Ethan changed too.
He had to stop using Ethan as proof.
At soccer:
“That’s my tough guy.”
Fine.
Then he started:
“Lily would—”
Melissa interrupted.
“No comparisons.”
Dad rolled his eyes.
Then stopped.
At dinner Ethan refused green beans.
Old Frank would have said:
“See? Ethan eats anything.”
Except he didn’t.
Kids vary by day.
Now Frank said:
“Try one.”
Ethan ate half.
Done.
Ethan relaxed.
His steak avoidance faded.
One evening he asked Grandpa:
“Are you going to burn Lily’s?”
Dad said:
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I was being mean when I did that.”
Ethan stared.
“Grandpas can be mean?”
“Yes.”
“Then what?”
“Then they apologize and stop.”
Simple.
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Children accept adult imperfection better than adults expect.
What scares them is adults insisting the harm never happened.
