Chapter 24 - Grandma
Benson asked to see Agatha eight months later.
Why?
“Train set.”
Of course.
Dr. Morris met him.
Then Agatha.
Therapeutic visit.
Twenty minutes.
No food.
No gifts at first.
Agatha entered.
Benson stayed near me? Better therapist room, I observed.
“Hi, Grandma.”
She cried.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
He looked wary.
Then:
“You slapped me.”
“Yes.”
“You threw food.”
“Yes.”
“Daddy said you were wrong.”
Agatha’s mouth tightened slightly.
Old reflex.
Then:
“Yes.”
Good.
“Were you?”
“Yes.”
“What if kid rude?”
Agatha swallowed.
“Then adults use a consequence that doesn’t take away the meal.”
“Like tablet?”
“Maybe.”
He nodded.
Then:
“Do you think Mommy makes me weak?”
Long silence.
“I think your mother and I disagree about many things.”
Not enough.
Benson looked at therapist.
She waited.
Agatha corrected.
“I should not call you weak because you cry.”
“Mommy?”
“Or your mother weak because she comforts you.”
Better.
Then:
“Do you think it?”
Agatha was trapped by a six-year-old.
She answered honestly.
“Sometimes I still think your mom is too soft.”
Benson shrugged.
“Okay.”
Not his job to fix.
Then:
“But I don’t get to hurt you because I think that.”
There.
Good.
At end:
“Can I hug you?”
Benson said:
“Side.”
They side-hugged.
No full restoration.
Visit ended.
May you like
He did not ask again for three months.
Fine.
