Then back at Owen.
“I’m sorry you had to miss the movie,” Owen said.
Ethan’s lip trembled.
“And I want you to understand something.”
Owen waited until Ethan met his eyes.
“You aren’t a bad kid.”
The boy looked surprised.
“Kicking seats and throwing popcorn wasn’t okay. But doing something wrong doesn’t make you a bad person.”
Ethan said nothing.
Owen continued gently.
“Were you trying to get somebody to pay attention to you?”
Ethan’s face collapsed.
Then he nodded.
His mother lowered her phone.
“They were fighting in the car,” Ethan whispered.
He wiped his eyes.
“They always fight.”
Nobody interrupted.
“And then we came here, and Dad was on his phone and Mom was on hers.”
His voice broke.
“Nobody was watching the movie with me.”
He looked toward me.
“When she turned around, that was the first time anybody looked at me all night.”
