Chapter 25 - Noah and Logan
Noah was ten when he asked to see Logan.
Not because adults suggested.
He saw a photo of Logan coaching youth wrestling.
“Does he still hit kids?”
I nearly choked.
“No.”
“Then why coach?”
I explained supervised sports.
Rules.
Age groups.
Consent.
No adult punching seven-year-olds.
Noah thought.
“Can I talk?”
Therapeutic setting.
Logan came.
He looked terrified.
Noah had grown.
Still small compared with him.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
Then Noah:
“You punched me.”
“Yes.”
“Did you think I was weak?”
Logan swallowed.
“Yes.”
Noah’s face changed.
Logan continued immediately.
“I was wrong.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought being scared meant being weak.”
“Dad too?”
“Yeah.”
Then:
“Do you now?”
“No.”
Noah looked skeptical.
“Why?”
Logan had been doing anger work.
Coaching.
Learning.
He said:
“Because I’ve seen kids cry and still come back next week. I’ve seen kids say stop before they get hurt. I’ve seen people who never cry do stupid things because they’re embarrassed.”
He smiled sadly.
“Like me.”
Noah almost smiled.
Then:
“Do you want hug?”
Logan did not ask.
Noah did.
That surprised us.
Logan looked toward therapist.
Then me.
I nodded only after Noah repeated.
They hugged.
Short.
No applause.
May you like
No instant sleepovers.
Relationship restarted from zero.
