"Mom, nobody wanted to sit in front of him, and I felt sorry for him because he doesn't have a dad, so I volunteered to the teacher.
"Maybe he didn't do it on purpose. Let's give him a chance. If it happens again, I'll tell the teacher."
Seeing that she had her way of handling the situation, I decided to wait and see.
Elisa told Troy about the incident, and unexpectedly, he put on his clothes and headed straight for Helen's door.
"I'm going to ask her how she's raising her kid," he said.
It took me by surprise.
Was he suddenly brave enough to confront her, just to make sure I wouldn't reconsider the divorce?
But Helen wasn't exactly a pushover.
In the middle of the night...
I was half asleep when the sound of a child's agonizing cries reached me from the hallway.
The sharp scolding was Helen's.
I glanced at the clock.
It was 12:08 a.m.
It seemed extreme, disciplining a child in the hallway at this hour.
"You had to meddle, didn't you? Now her dad's come knocking at our door. Let's see if you dare do it again.
"If there's a next time, I swear I'll chop your hands off!"
I opened the door.
Kaelan's eyes were bright as he looked up at me.