Chapter 15 - Noah Opens A Red Jar Himself
At twelve, Noah attended a family barbecue.
Caroline brought pasta salad.
Emily made burgers.
Daniel burned half of them.
On the table sat a jar of red tomato sauce.
Noah noticed it.
He no longer froze.
He picked it up and read the label.
Cashew-free.
Produced in a facility with allergen controls.
He opened it himself.
Emily watched without making the moment bigger than Noah wanted.
He poured some onto his plate.
Caroline noticed.
She said nothing.
Later Noah asked Daniel:
“Was Grandma trying to cure me?”
Daniel answered:
“She believed she was.”
“Does that make it better?”
“No.”
“Does it make her evil?”
Daniel paused.
“I don’t think that word helps me understand her.”
Noah nodded.
“She did something bad.”
“Yes.”
“A lot.”
“Yes.”
“And she thought it was good.”
“Yes.”
“That’s scary.”
Daniel looked at him.
“It can be.”
Noah dipped a fry into the sauce.
“That’s why rules matter?”
Daniel smiled slightly.
“That’s one reason.”
Medical consent.
Oversight.
Allergy protocols.
Adults listening when children said no.
May you like
Rules were not obstacles to caring.
Sometimes they were what kept care from becoming control.
