“I didn’t mean bad weird, Dad.”
“What kind of weird, Captain?” I asked.
He stared at the plastic field.
“Dad pauses games to check if I’m tired.”
Chris started to respond.
Ethan continued.
“And you take pictures when I’m eating cereal, Mom.”
I looked down at my phone.
Ethan added, “You saved that hospital bracelet from when I threw up on your shoe.”
“That was a memorable evening, sweetie.”
“Mom.”
“Sorry.”
He rubbed his thumb across the plastic scoreboard.
Then he looked at Chris.
“Dad used to yell at football.”
“I still yell at football, buddy,” Chris cut in.
“No, Dad… now you yell and then look at me.”
Chris fell silent.
Ethan turned toward me.
“And Mom used to yell at referees.”
“Bad referees.”
“All referees.”
I nearly laughed.
Then Ethan said, “That’s why I picked football.”
The room went completely still.
Chris leaned forward.
