Chapter 14 - Sophie Asks Why Carter Panicked
At twelve, Sophie asked Daniel a question she had never asked before.
“Why did Ms. Carter care that much about my phone?”
Daniel answered with what the investigation established.
“She had helped hide things. She thought your picture could expose them.”
“But why scissors?”
“She panicked.”
“That’s stupid.”
“Yes.”
Sophie looked surprised he agreed.
Daniel continued.
“People can do frightening things for stupid reasons.”
“Was she evil?”
Daniel avoided the easy label.
“She falsified records. She helped hurt Lucas. She threatened you. Those things were wrong.”
Sophie thought.
“She was nice before.”
“I know.”
That was harder.
Ms. Carter had taught Sophie multiplication.
She once stayed late to help with a science project.
She had also terrified her.
People did not become fictional because they caused harm.
Sophie was allowed to remember both.
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Understanding complexity did not require reopening the classroom door to Ms. Carter.
Boundaries could remain simple even when people were not.
