First he did something, then he insisted my description of it was the real offense.

I had learned to spend hours debating words while the original harm slipped out of view.

Tonight, I was tired of debating.

I asked Gregory whether the restaurant had an incident report I could sign, and he brought one without hesitation.

I wrote my name, the time, and a plain account of what happened.

I didn’t decorate it or soften it for Spencer’s comfort.

I watched the ink dry while Gertrude whispered something into her son’s ear.