Chapter 10 - Peter’s rule
My father’s rule was:
Children should learn the adults are in charge.
He did not hit us often growing up.
A couple of spankings.
Nothing I had considered abusive.
His power came through tone.
If Dad said:
Enough,
we stopped.
He expected grandchildren to respond the same.
Eli did not always.
Not because he was disrespectful.
Because five-year-olds sometimes continue crying after adults say stop.
Peter interpreted that as choice.
One month before the perfume incident, Eli cried because he scraped his knee.
Peter said:
“You’re okay.”
Eli continued crying.
Peter said:
“I said you’re okay.”
As if repeating the diagnosis could cancel pain.
Lena laughed.
“See? This is what I mean.”
I said:
“He’s bleeding.”
Tiny scrape.
Still.
Peter later told investigators:
“I believe Anna reinforces emotional behavior.”
The detective asked:
“Does that belief include deliberately causing discomfort to correct him?”
Peter said:
“No.”
“Then why did you say he deserved being sprayed?”
Long pause.
Peter eventually claimed:
“I meant he deserved some kind of consequence.”
Again.
May you like
Timing mattered.
Words often become more nuanced after bodycam footage arrives.
