Page 18 of Smitty

She nodded, and then I followed her into the living room. We sat on the sofa, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. Eventually, Melissa sighed and said, “Danny got tied up at work, but he’s trying his best to get here.”

“That’s fine. We can start without him.” I gave her a smile as I asked, “How have things been going?”

“It hasn’t been a great week.” Her shoulders sagged like she was carrying the weight of the world, and it was taking a toll on her. “Dylan’s been difficult… More than usual.”

She sounded so defeated, and my heart actually ached for her. It was clear she loved her son, and she always seemed truly concerned about what was going on with him. There was no missing the worry in her voice when she told me, “He’s been so moody… He snaps at us over little things, and he’s spending more and more time in his room. I try to get him to talk to me, but it always ends up in an argument. I don’t know what to do anymore.”

She wasn’t making excuses. Like me, she was looking for answers, so I asked, “Have you considered the counseling services we’ve offered?”

“I have.” She sighed. “Danny hasn’t really been on board, but I think he’s coming around. These last few days have been rough on him, too.”

Hope flickered inside me. Not because counseling would magically solve everything, but because I truly believed it was a start to getting him the help he needed. “I’m really glad to hear that.”

“I just want to know what’s going on with him.” She wrung her hands in her lap. “I see what his teachers have been worried about, and I’m worried, too.”

“We’ll figure it out.”

“I hope so.”

I wasn’t sure how to ask my next question, so I just went for it. “When I pulled up today, I saw Dylan talking to a boy down the street.”

“Oh?”

“He was a good bit older.”

“Oh, that was probably Jimmy,” she replied, like it was no big deal. “He’s one of the neighbor’s kids. He and Dylan hang out sometimes.”

“Do you know anything about him?”

“Not really.”

“What about his family?”

“I’ve met his mother a couple of times, and she seems nice enough.” She must’ve picked up on my concern, because she quickly added, “He’s always been very polite and respectful, and Dylan seems to enjoy hanging out with him.”

“Okay.”

“Do you think he has something to do with what’s been going on with Dylan?”

“I can’t answer that. At least, not yet.”

“So, you think it’s possible?”

“I think it would be best to limit the amount of time you allow them to spend together.”

“Okay. I can do that.” Her voice trembled as she added, “I’ll go get Dylan.”

She got up, and a few moments later, she returned with Dylan at her side. The difference between the boy outside and the one sitting next to his mother was impossible to miss. Outside, I’d seen glimpses of fear or frustration, but now, there was nothing.

He would barely even look at me when I said, “Hi, Dylan. It’s good to see you again.”

Melissa gave me a pained expression when he didn’t respond. I didn’t make a big deal of it and just moved forward. “How’s school going?”

“Fine.”

“How about that math test you were telling me about? How’d you do?”

“Don’t know yet.”