The old phone in Tyler’s hands was meant for one emergency: my own. Instead, he used it to report me over a bowl of ice cream. Officer Bruce checked the kitchen, asked five questions, then stopped at the freezer calendar. What my son had drawn there changed the reason the officer stayed at our door.
“Can I have ice cream?”
I looked over my shoulder.
Tyler stood with the freezer door wide open, cold air rolling around his bare feet while I stirred spaghetti sauce at the stove.
“No. Close the freezer.”
“But there’s chocolate.”
“I know.”
“And vanilla.”
“I’m familiar with our inventory, Tyler.”
“Can I have ice cream?”
He frowned at me as though I’d personally betrayed both flavors.
“Can I have chocolate?”
“After dinner.”
His shoulders shot up.
“But I’m hungry now.”
“Excellent news. Dinner is almost ready.”
“I don’t want spaghetti.”
