“I need to apologize.”
Walt didn’t stop him.
But he said one thing.
“Don’t do it because she’s Darlene.”
Michael turned.
“What?”
“Don’t apologize just because she once helped us.”
Walt looked directly at him.
“Apologize because what you did was wrong.”
Michael nodded slowly.
Then he walked toward my mother.
I watched him approach the counter.
Mom looked up.
“Need something else?”
Michael stopped.
For several seconds, he seemed unable to speak.
Then he said,
“Mrs. Darlene?”
She tilted her head.
“Yes?”
He swallowed.
“I owe you an apology.”
Mom became still.
Michael continued.
“I was rude to you on Tuesday.”
“Yes,” Mom said quietly.
He looked embarrassed.
“I sent my food back twice.”
“That was your right if something was wrong.”
He nodded.
“But writing that on the receipt wasn’t.”
“No.”
Mom’s answer was simple.
Firm.
Michael looked down.
“My father told me what you did for us when I was a boy.”
