Chapter 11 - THE PROJECT HE MADE NEXT
Ivo’s next project was worse.
Objectively.
He built a cardboard bus stop.
The roof leaned.
One wall collapsed twice.
He used too much glue.
The sign said:
KIDS CAN WAIT HERE SAFE.
His idea:
Bus stops should have lights low enough for children to see.
A bench.
A roof.
A bright strip so cars notice.
He made it with Mrs. Grant in class.
No adult taking pictures until the teacher documented completion.
No family preview.
Not because secrecy was healthy.
Because he needed one project that belonged to ordinary school life.
He did not win a medal.
Good.
He received a smiley sticker and classroom applause.
He came home thrilled.
I realized how badly the adults had corrupted the scale.
A medal was supposed to mean:
Nice work.
Not:
family identity.
Not:
private-school admission.
Not:
trust funding.
Not:
proof of whose child mattered.
We started shrinking achievement back to child size.
The school reinstated his regional showcase entry for the original neighborhood project.
Ivo declined.
At five.
His choice.
Mrs. Grant asked:
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t like that one now.”
That was enough.
No inspirational return to stage.
No forcing him to reclaim something because adults needed closure.
Meanwhile, my civil case with Melisande continued.
Her lawyers demanded damages over the leaked video.
Naomi’s position:
I did not publish publicly.
But I negligently distributed to a group where further dissemination was foreseeable.
Not legally certain.
Morally, I knew enough.
We negotiated protective settlement involving the children’s images.
I agreed:
No further distribution.
Formal takedown cooperation.
No monetizing footage.
No interviews using my niece’s image.
Melisande agreed same.
No damages between us at that stage.
Good.
Then the family cousin who leaked the clip received a cease-and-desist from both parents.
He complied.
The internet never completely forgot.
But search results faded.
May you like
Children kept growing.
That mattered more.
