“They seemed all right on the way back,” she said.

“They were brave.

But children shouldn’t have to be brave about that.”

She looked at the photograph beside my desk.

All four were wearing school clothes, laughing as Ethan tried to balance a hat on Olivia’s head.

“They’re going to remember that you listened afterward,” Lena said.

I hoped so.

The encounter had also taught me something about my own pride.