We were playing Scrabble when he tried to tell me about a teacher he had admired. His mouth opened, but the sentence would not come.
His illness had begun affecting his speech, and the harder he pushed, the more trapped the words became.
Carl gripped the edge of the table.
His illness had begun affecting his speech.
I looked toward the window.
“Did I tell you what happened at work yesterday?”
He shook his head.
I launched into a ridiculous story about a volunteer locking herself inside the supply closet. I added details until Carl’s shoulders loosened.
By the time I finished, he was smiling.
“Did I tell you what happened at work yesterday?”
“You did that on purpose,” he said softly.
“Did what?”
“Nothing.”
He looked down at the board, a calculating stillness settling into his gaze.
I did not understand why.
“You did that on purpose.”
