"He chose me."
My father stared at Ray.
Ray didn't look proud.
He looked miserable.
Because that was Ray.
He hadn't wanted to beat anybody.
He hadn't known there was a competition until somebody showed up and announced one.
My father pulled his hand away.
"You're 17. You don't understand everything."
He looked at Mom.
"You've done a hell of a job turning him against me."
Mom stepped forward.
"No. I never kept you away. I spent years making excuses for you."
His face changed.
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She continued.
"Maybe your card got lost. Maybe you didn't have our number. Then I stopped because he was old enough to know I was lying."
I hadn't known that.
Mom wiped her cheek.
"Don't blame me because another man did what you kept choosing not to do."
My father looked at me one last time.
"That car will still be here if you change your mind."
