Lisa joined us by phone.
For almost two months before that, Frank rarely recognized Owen.
But the night before he died, he woke in the middle of the night.
Owen was sitting beside him.
Frank studied his face.
Then asked,
“Did you see the ending?”
Owen didn’t understand.
“The ending of what?”
“Spider-Man.”
Owen began to cry.
“I saw it, Dad.”
“All of it?”
“All of it.”
Frank smiled.
“Was it good?”
“It was really good.”
Frank closed his eyes.
“Good boy.”
At the funeral, Owen gave the eulogy.
He had never liked speaking in front of people.
But that day, his hands remained still.
He didn’t pretend Frank had been perfect.
He talked honestly about his father’s temper.
About the pain Frank carried from his own childhood.
About the damage that pain caused.
Then Owen told them about Ethan.
About the theater.
About saying,
“Hey. Stop.”
