Chapter 8 - THE BOY WHO STOPPED EATING FRIES
Lucy asked to invite Noah over for dinner.
I agreed.
Cal hesitated.
Then accepted.
He brought a homemade apple pie.
The crust was uneven.
The filling leaked through one side.
It was the best pie I'd tasted in years.
Lucy and Noah played board games in the living room.
Cal helped me wash dishes.
For a while, everything felt normal.
Then I noticed Noah sitting alone at the kitchen table.
His plate was untouched.
I approached gently.
“Everything okay?”
He nodded.
But his eyes were wet.
I sat across from him.
“Want to talk?”
He shook his head.
I waited.
Finally, he whispered:
“Dad says he's not hungry when we don't have enough.”
My heart tightened.
I looked toward the sink.
Cal was laughing at something Lucy said.
Noah continued.
“He always gives me the bigger half.”
I swallowed.
“He loves you.”
Noah nodded.
“I know.”
Then he looked at me.
“But I don't want him to be hungry.”
My eyes filled.
I reached across the table.
“You're a good son.”
He looked down.
“I just want things to be normal.”
May you like
I squeezed his hand.
“So does your dad.”
