Chapter 12 - THE RESTAURANT MEETING
Four months after the incident, Sam agreed to meet Leo.
Same restaurant.
Different table.
Daytime.
Closed between lunch and dinner.
Sam chose the location.
Claire waited in the lobby.
Leo sat across from him.
No hug.
Sam said:
“You’re taller than I expected.”
Leo almost laughed.
Then:
“I’m sorry.”
“I read the letter.”
“I know.”
Silence.
Leo asked:
“Did you know who I was that night?”
“Yes.”
That hurt.
“So when I—”
“Yes.”
Leo looked down.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Sam shrugged.
“What was I supposed to say? Don’t shove me, I’m your brother?”
Fair.
Leo asked:
“Do you hate me?”
“No.”
Relief appeared too quickly.
Sam continued:
“I also don’t know you.”
Relief disappeared.
Good.
Sam said:
“You apologized. I believe you mean it. That doesn’t make us brothers tomorrow.”
Leo nodded.
Then:
“Can it someday?”
Sam thought.
“Maybe.”
That was enough.
At school, Leo eventually apologized to the cafeteria worker he had mocked.
Her name was Denise.
He had never known.
That fact embarrassed him.
“Sorry.”
She looked at him.
“For?”
He had prepared a general apology.
Now he had to be specific.
“For calling the food disgusting and filming you cleaning it up.”
Denise nodded.
“And?”
Leo swallowed.
“For posting it.”
“Did you delete it?”
“Yes.”
“Did everyone else?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then ask.”
He did.
Several students had reposted the clip.
Getting those copies removed took longer than the original cruelty.
May you like
That taught another lesson.
Humiliation can travel farther than apology.
