“You okay?” I asked.
She watched Sophie chase bubbles.
“I shouldn’t have said what I said yesterday.”
“No.”
“I didn’t mean…”
She stopped.
I waited.
Eventually she said, “I suppose meaning something badly and saying something badly aren’t always that different.”
That surprised me.
Before I could answer, Caleb yelled for me.
The moment passed.
That evening, after we got home, I tucked Caleb into bed.
“You had a good day?”
“The best.”
“You know what I’m proudest of?”
“The dress?”
“No.”
He looked confused.
“I’m proud that when someone said Sophie wouldn’t understand your kindness, you didn’t let that change how you felt about her.”
He thought about it.
Then he said, “Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Do adults forget stuff?”
“All the time.”
“No. I mean important stuff.”
I smiled faintly.
“Unfortunately.”
He pulled his blanket to his chin.
“Kids don’t care if Sophie’s different.”
