Chapter 17 - THE CAMERA RULE
At thirteen, Lily learned I had hidden the camera.
She was furious.
“You put a camera in my doll?”
“Yes.”
“Without telling me?”
“You were four.”
“It was still my doll.”
She had a point I had never considered.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“Grandma always said that.”
The comparison cut.
I did not defend myself immediately.
Then:
“You’re right that protection doesn’t erase privacy. I was scared and made the choice for you.”
“Would you do it now?”
“No.”
“Would you tell Dad?”
“Yes.”
Michael smiled sadly from across the table.
“Progress.”
Lily rolled her eyes.
We created a family rule.
No hidden recording devices in private spaces except genuine emergencies involving immediate safety, with legal advice where possible.
It sounded ridiculous to write down.
We wrote it anyway.
Because our family had learned what happens when one person’s certainty becomes everybody else’s invisible rule.
Lily later joked:
“Most families have rules about dishes.”
“We have those too.”
May you like
“No one follows them.”
True.
