Chapter 21 - Benson’s Voice Without Benson in Court
Dr. Price summarized Benson’s wishes.
Not controlling.
He was six now.
“Where do you want to sleep?”
“Mommy house school days.”
“Daddy?”
“Weekend and dinner.”
“Grandma?”
“Birthday maybe.”
“Why?”
“She throws food.”
Then:
“Do you miss Grandma?”
“Yes.”
Important.
“What do you miss?”
“Her train set.”
Children.
Then:
“Do you think Daddy will take food?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“He says no red food.”
That phrase became family shorthand.
Then:
“Are you scared of Daddy?”
“Sometimes when quiet.”
That hurt Stellan.
Silent father.
The original scene.
Then:
“What helps?”
“When he says words.”
There.
Not perfect dad.
Transparent dad.
Dr. Price recommended adults name decisions rather than freeze.
Stellan took that seriously later.
Then court recessed.
No immediate ruling.
I went home.
Benson ate spaghetti.
Dropped fork.
Cried because sauce touched sleeve.
May you like
I almost laughed at how ordinary it was.
The legal world had built hundreds of pages around a child who, at home, was furious about tomato sauce.
