Chapter 10 - ETHAN REFUSES TO REBUILD
Jason purchased the replacement wood using his savings.
Daniel brought the materials into the garage.
Ethan looked at them.
“I don’t want to build it with him.”
Jason stood near the door.
“You said I had to.”
“I said you had to offer,” Daniel answered.
“Ethan does not have to accept.”
Jason rolled his eyes.
“Then why did I waste my money?”
“You damaged something.”
“Replacement is required whether he forgives you or not.”
Jason looked at Ethan.
“It was just an airplane.”
Ethan’s face changed.
“No.”
“It was time with my mom.”
“You broke the time too.”
The words silenced everyone.
I had focused on the model.
Ethan had understood the deeper loss.
The airplane represented afternoons in the garage.
Paint on our hands.
Plans made together.
Jason could replace wood.
He could not return those hours.
“I’m sorry,” Jason muttered.
Ethan shook his head.
“You’re saying it because Dad made you.”
Jason looked toward Daniel.
Daniel remained quiet.
“What do you want me to say?” Jason asked.
“The truth.”
Jason stared at the floor.
“I was angry because your headphones were better than mine.”
“I thought Rachel always bought you better things.”
“She bought you the console,” Ethan said.
“I know.”
Jason swallowed.
“My mom said gifts from Rachel were not real.”
“She said she would take them away when she got tired of us.”
“So I wanted to break something first.”
Ethan looked at me.
“Are you going to get tired of them?”
“No.”
“I am tired of being disrespected.”
“That is different.”
Jason sat on the garage step.
“My mom said you canceled things because you never loved us.”
“I canceled optional expenses because love should not require me to pay for the right to be treated safely.”
He looked confused.
He was fifteen.
Adults had spent years teaching him that money, loyalty, authority, and love were the same thing.
Untangling them would take time.
Ethan did not rebuild the airplane with him.
He chose a different project.
A wooden sailboat.
Jason was required to help clean the garage and replace the tools he had damaged.
Weeks later, he began watching Ethan work.
He did not ask to join.
Ethan did not invite him.
The distance remained.
May you like
Consequences could open a door.
They could not force closeness through it.
