Chapter 9 - SARAH'S BACKYARD DECISION
After the garden incident, Sarah did not take Noah and disappear.
She called emergency services.
She stayed where Noah could see her.
She did not ask him:
Did Daddy hit you before?
She asked:
“Do you hurt anywhere right now?”
Noah pointed to his arm.
“Okay.”
“Can I look?”
He nodded.
Robert paced near the patio.
“You’re blowing this up.”
Sarah said nothing.
When police arrived, Robert immediately changed tone.
Calm.
Controlled.
“He was having a tantrum.”
One officer looked at the discarded switch.
Robert continued:
“I tapped his arms. I didn’t beat him.”
Sarah answered:
“I saw two strikes and older bruises.”
Robert glared.
The officer separated them.
The case began with facts.
May you like
Not adjectives.
That mattered.
