His voice became slightly unsteady.
“A woman nearby saw what was happening.”
I held my breath.
“She looked directly at me.”
Owen paused.
“Then she looked away.”
Nobody moved.
“For twenty-nine years, I remembered that woman.”
He looked at Ethan.
“I used to wonder why she didn’t say anything.”
His voice softened.
“I didn’t need her to start a fight.”
“I just needed one person to say, ‘Hey. Stop.’”
He looked back at Ethan’s father.
“So that’s what I’m saying now.”
A long silence followed.
Then the man opened his hand.
Ethan immediately rubbed his arm.
His father stepped back.
“This is none of your business,” he said, but there was less certainty in his voice.
“You’re right,” Owen said.
Then he slowly crouched several feet away from Ethan.
He didn’t touch him.
“Hey, buddy.”
Ethan looked at him.
“You okay?”
The boy looked toward his parents.
