I placed my hand on Lucas’s shoulder.
“We’re going home.”
Derek followed us toward the exit, asking for another chance to explain. I told him we could speak the following day, when Lucas had time to rest.
Then we left.
What Tyler Had Told Him
At home, Lucas went upstairs without changing out of his jersey. A few minutes later, I found him sitting on his bed with the sign beside him.
“Mom?”
“I’m here.”
“Did Dad really think I made it up?”
I sat next to him.
“I don’t know everything your dad was thinking. But I know you deserved to be heard.”
Lucas picked at a loose thread on his sleeve.
“Tyler said his mom could make the complaint go away.”
I turned toward him.
“When did he say that?”
“Monday. He said my dad knew I was exaggerating and that the school would stop listening to me.”
