He said it too quickly.

That was what made me look at him.

Lucy was eleven.

She had dropped glasses before.

Spilled milk.

Forgotten homework.

Left her backpack in the driveway.

Once she had put a container of ice cream in the refrigerator instead of the freezer and cried harder over the melted ice cream than anyone else in the house.

Daniel had been annoyed plenty of times.

But that afternoon was different.

Lucy was frightened before he raised his voice.

I set the broom against the counter.

“Daniel, let her step back.”

“She can stay where she is.”