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“I don’t think being an ass would get the job done.” I set the frame down.
“What did I tell you about name calling when you were six?”
I rolled my eyes. Every chance he got he reminded me of how he molded me.
“It isn’t name calling if it’s the truth.”
He smirked as if he were enjoying this. Why wouldn’t he? I was giving him everything I wasn’t supposed to. It was obvious he affected me . . . and he loved that more than anything.
“Are you here for relationship advice?”
Do not react. He’s mocking you to push you.
“You gave a wonderful example of what not to do.” Except in these old pictures, Motherdidlook happy. And she had been in all my memories too.
Had he actually tried to do what pleased her?
I leaned against the mantel at the possibility that Mother had been happy and he’d had a role in it.
“I don’t like him.”
Mother sat me on the swing on the back porch. “We don’t always like the people we love.”
“I don’t love him.” I folded my arms over my chest. He yelled at Teague for leaving his tricycle in the foyer. It wasn’t a big deal.
She brushed the hair back from my forehead. “Oh, sweetheart. You can’t get that angry at someone you don’t love.”
I could.Father was awful. I did everything he said and he still got mad.
“He hates us.”
I felt it. I’d been over to Kenny’s house and his dad played basketball with us. My father wouldn’t allow us to have friends over.
“We don’t use that word in this house,” she said sternly.
“It’s true,” I cried.
“Lincoln, listen to me. People have different ways of showing their emotions. And some of us just don’t know how to.”
He was only good at showing one feeling. Mean.
I put my chin down and swung my legs.
She pulled me against her, stroking my hair. “He is who he is. And one day, when you’re a dad, you’ll understand why he’s the way he is. That he wants you to be the best you can be.”
I burrowed against her. “But you want me to be the best and you’re not mean to me.”
She kissed the top of my head. “How are you already so wise?”
“Where’s Teague?” Father’s thundering voice made me shiver.
I’d never tell him I’d told Teague to stay in my room and hide until I said it was okay to come out.
Mother smiled and patted the swing next to her. “Come sit, Samuel.”
He did as soon as she asked. She clasped his hand and he let her. He was stiff and frowning.
“The boy can’t leave his toys in the foyer. It’s uncivilized.”
