We talked for nearly an hour.

I told Toby about meeting Patrick near the lake, about a song he liked, about a picnic ruined by weather that he later insisted had been excellent weather for leaving early.

I did not turn Patrick into a perfect man because a child was listening.

I also did not make the child carry the details of our betrayal.

A twelve-year-old could understand that adults had made mistakes.

He did not need to hear every accusation in order to be treated honestly.