Chapter 7 - Sarah Faces Her Own Actions Too
The family spent so much time discussing Rachel’s shove that Sarah’s
slap risked disappearing from the story.
Sarah refused to let that happen.
She had struck Rachel.
Then shoved Jake hard enough that he fell into the ice tub.
She had been terrified for Ethan.
She had also used physical force after her son was already safe with
another adult.
Sarah gave a statement to responding deputies.
She did not call it justified simply because Rachel behaved worse.
Rachel had pushed a ten-year-old child into deep water.
Sarah had reacted in panic and rage.
Both actions could be evaluated separately.
Robert appreciated that.
Mark did not.
He accused Sarah of pretending moral superiority.
She shook her head.
“I’m doing the opposite.”
Ethan overheard only part of the conversation.
Later he asked Sarah:
“Were you wrong to hit Rachel?”
Sarah sat beside him.
“Yes.”
“But she pushed me.”
“Yes.”
“Then why?”
“Because being scared and angry explains what I did. It doesn’t make
every part of it right.”
Ethan thought about that for a long time.
The adults had spent the day arguing about ownership.
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Sarah wanted her son to learn something more important.
Power did not turn every reaction into permission.
