Chapter 16 - Diane tells the truth
My mother’s first meaningful admission came during a family interview.
Detective Marlowe asked:
“Did you think Lena was going to spray Eli before she did?”
Diane:
“No.”
“Had you seen her spray him before?”
“She sprayed his shirt once.”
“Why?”
“They were teasing.”
“Did Eli laugh?”
Silence.
“No.”
“Did he ask her to stop?”
“I think so.”
“Did you intervene?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Diane started crying.
“Because I thought Anna was making him too sensitive.”
There.
Not confusion.
Belief.
Marlowe asked:
“Did you laugh after Lena sprayed Eli’s face on Saturday?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I was nervous.”
Maybe.
Then:
“Did you believe he was hurt?”
“I didn’t know.”
“You could see him crying and covering his eyes.”
“Yes.”
“Why say the kids were playing?”
Diane looked down.
“Because I wanted Anna to calm down.”
That sentence described our family perfectly.
A child hurt.
Diane’s first emergency:
May you like
Anna’s anger.
Not Eli’s eyes.
