Chapter 12 - BLAKE DOES IT AGAINThe call came from school.
Malcolm expected grades.
Instead, the assistant principal said, “We need you to come in.”
Blake sat outside the office when Malcolm arrived.
His shoulders were hunched.
A boy Malcolm recognized as Ethan sat at the opposite end of the hallway with his father.
The father wore a gray maintenance uniform with the school district logo.
Malcolm understood before anyone explained.
Inside the office, the assistant principal folded her hands.
“Blake made comments about Ethan’s family.”
Malcolm looked at his son.
“What comments?”
Blake stared at the floor.
The principal continued.
“He told Ethan that his father cleans up after people like the Sterlings.”
Malcolm’s jaw tightened.
“Anything else?”
“He said Ethan shouldn’t pretend they were equals because his family rents an apartment.”
The silence that followed was brutal.
Malcolm looked at Blake.
“Did you say that?”
Blake nodded.
“When?”
“Last week.”
“Before or after Rosa left?”
“Before.”
The principal looked confused.
Malcolm said, “There are family issues connected to the language he’s using.”
“That does not excuse it.”
“I know.”
Blake looked up, perhaps expecting defense.
Malcolm gave none.
“What is the consequence?”
“One day suspension and a restorative meeting if Ethan’s family agrees.”
“Fine.”
Blake’s eyes widened.
“Dad—”
“No.”
Outside, Malcolm approached Ethan’s father.
“Mr…?”
“Carter.”
“Mr. Carter, I’m Malcolm Sterling.”
“I know.”
Of course he did.
Sterling Development logos stood on half the commercial developments around Charlotte.
“I’m sorry.”
Mr. Carter glanced at Blake.
“He should be the one saying it.”
“He will.”
Blake looked miserable.
Malcolm waited.
Finally Blake whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Ethan did not respond.
His father said, “For what?”
Blake looked at Malcolm.
No help came.
“For saying my family is better.”
“And?”
“For making fun of Ethan because you work here.”
Mr. Carter nodded.
“Anything else?”
Blake’s face reddened.
“For saying people who work for us have to do what we say.”
Mr. Carter’s expression shifted.
Not surprised.
Sad.
“Who taught you that?”
Blake said nothing.
Malcolm felt every eye move toward him.
He answered.
“He learned it at home.”
The admission cost him pride.
Good.
It should.
In the car, Blake burst out:
“You embarrassed me!”
Malcolm kept driving.
“You embarrassed Ethan.”
“I apologized!”
“That doesn’t erase it.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Understand it.”
“I do!”
“No. You’re angry because there were consequences.”
Blake kicked lightly at the floorboard.
“Mom would have defended me.”
Malcolm’s hands tightened on the wheel.
“Yes.”
Blake looked out the window.
“That’s what scares me.”
The boy turned.
“What?”
Malcolm pulled into an empty parking lot and stopped.
He faced his son.
“Your mother loves you.”
Blake’s expression softened slightly.
“But loving you does not make every lesson she taught you right.”
“Do you hate Mom?”
“No.”
“Does Rosa?”
“I don’t know.”
“Does Carla?”
“I don’t know.”
“Does everybody hate us?”
The question was so childlike that Malcolm’s anger disappeared.
“No.”
Blake’s eyes filled.
“Then why is everybody leaving?”
Malcolm swallowed.
“Because people are allowed to leave when we hurt them.”
Blake wiped his cheek.
“Can Rosa come back?”
“That is her decision.”
“I’ll say sorry.”
“You should.”
“Then she’ll come back?”
“No.”
Blake looked devastated.
Malcolm continued gently.
“An apology is not a purchase.”
“What?”
“You don’t give somebody the words ‘I’m sorry’ and receive what you want in return.”
Blake sat quietly.
After a moment:
“Was Mom lying to me?”
“About what?”
“People.”
Malcolm leaned back.
“Your mother believes some things that are deeply wrong.”
“So yes.”
“Yes.”
Blake looked down at his hands.
“What if I believed her?”
“You did.”
“Does that make me bad?”
“No.”
“What does it make me?”
Malcolm thought carefully.
“Responsible for learning better.”
Blake considered that.
Then he whispered, “I hit Rosa.”
“Yes.”
“I poured water on her.”
“Yes.”
“She didn’t do anything.”
“No.”
Blake looked up.
His eyes were wet.
“Does that mean Mom was lying when she said Rosa was trying to turn me against her?”
Malcolm felt a shift.
Not proof.
Not redemption.
But the first independent question Blake had asked about his mother.
“I think you should judge Rosa by what Rosa actually did.”
Blake nodded slowly.
May you like
Then he said:
“She never did anything to me.”
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