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“The way the boys are with Victoria gives me hope that they know kindness,” Sally murmurs.
Sat on the back porch swing, with my arm around my old lady, we’ve been watching our grandchildren play for the last hour.
“Fuck, Sal, you make them sound like they’re the devil or some shit.”
Her chest inflates with a deep inhale. “Thomas, you must see they’re a little different than other kids. Did Ky tell you about the trouble at school yesterday?”
“She hasn’t said anything. They’re always in trouble at that place, but it’s never anything serious. They’re just being little boys.”
“They stole out of their teacher’s purse. The week before, they kept bullying the other children. They don’t listen to Ky, and they barely listen to Ricky. The only time they do listen is to you. And all you say is they’re just being little boys.”
“What are you saying? There’s something wrong with our grandsons.”
“No, not as such. But they need to learn right from wrong. They need to be able to live in society knowing there’s a time and place for everything.”
I look down at her, noticing the deep frown lines between her eyes.
“You’re worried about them?”
“Sure. They’re growing up around men who do what they must in order to survive. I fear they’ll mistake that for believing they can do what they like without consequence.”
She rests her head against me. “When we got pregnant with Kyla, one of my dreams was us sitting on a porch like this, watching our grandchildren run around.”
This makes me smile. “I haven’t been able to give you much over the years, but I’m glad to hear one of your dreams came true.”
Placing her hand over mine, she urges, “You’ve given me everything, Thomas. I’m happy.”
“Glad to hear it, darlin’.”
“Are you happy?”
“More than you’ll ever know.”
Leaning down, I press my lips to the top of her head. “Take Victoria inside, and I’ll have a word with the boys.”
I remain seated on the swing while she collects our granddaughter and takes her into the house.
Deciding the best way to handle this, I rise from the swing and step down onto the lawn.
“Boys, follow me.”
They listen at once, and I wonder what everyone keeps going on about.
They wait out by the shed while I grab two small shovels. Stepping outside, I hand them one each.
“You’re gonna dig me a hole, and while you’re doing it, you’re gonna tell me why you’ve been being naughty for your mom.”
“We…” Before Myles can mutter a lie, I raise my brows warningly.
“Mason, you start digging by that tree. And you, Myles, start here.” I point a couple of feet from the tree.
“What’s it for, Grumps?” Masons asks.
“You think you deserve to know my secrets?”
Wisely, neither of them answers. I pull up a lawn chair and make myself comfortable.
“Now, Mason, tell me why you thought you could steal from your teacher?”
