Page 57 of Through Quick and Quinn
Well, he ended up talking about how he wishes his family would talk more about his brother at home, but he knows how sad his parents get with thoughts of Geoffrey. He’s torn, because on the one hand he doesn’t want to push his parents, but on the other hand, he’s afraid pieces of his brother will be forgotten. I told him that he could always talk to me about Geoffrey, and that I would love to hear every little thing about him. So Quick told me all about this one time he took his brother to play at the park. He took a whole bunch of stuff to do, like a soccer ball and a bug-catcher set, but all Geoffrey wanted to do was play in this splotch of mud that pooled up next to a broken sprinkler head. Quick laughed throughout the entire anecdote, especially when he recalled how the mud ended up everywhere: in his hair, in his ear, in his underwear. It was beautiful to watch him recollect, to see the smiles overtake the sadness.
I think he’s starting to get it. It seems like he’s getting closer to accepting the truth of it, that what happened was not his fault. That he doesn’t need to be punished for life because of what happened. Evil was done by evil, not by him.
And Quick is the furthest thing from evil.
…Q
***
Mandy / 6:41 p.m.
hey
Quinn / 6:42 p.m.
Hi, Mandy. How are you?
6:42 p.m.
good
just wanted to wish you a happy birthday tomorrow
6:42 p.m.
Oh my goodness, thank you, Mandy!
6:42 p.m.
let me know if you wanna do something
6:42 p.m.
I already have plans with a friend, but thank you.
Maybe we can hang out next week or something?
6:44 p.m.
sounds good
have a good one
6:45 p.m.
Thank you!
Sunday, July 7, 2024
Note to self:
I’m starting to think Mandy really might have turned over a new leaf. She’s been texting off and on for a few months now, and it was thoughtful of her to wish me a happy birthday. I mean, really, what would be in it for her to mess with me? What would she have to gain? It seems like that would be a lot of effort to put in—all the texting, the invitations, the nostalgic reminders—just to mess with me. Let’s say it’s a scam. Okay, what is she going to do? Vandalize the bathrooms again? I highly doubt it. Is it so far-fetched to think that she’s forgiven me? That since we’re almost adults, she’s liberated herself from elementary school drama? That seems more likely to me than her toying with me.
Maybe I will make plans with her then.
I don’t know. I reread this note, and I sound super defensive. What the heck? Why is that?
Okay, clearly, I’m conflicted. I’m not making a decision until I know what decision to make. I wish I could talk to Mom about it but she’s been so uptight lately, I’m not really enjoying her vibe. And Dad is a good listener, but this kind of stuff is not his forte. Ugh, I’ll figure it out.
