Coming home from school, Zach hadn’t spoken much. Upon entering, he plopped down on the couch and took up the electric soothing of little Italian men named Mario and Luigi running through impossible video game feats. I had the feeling all of this was getting to be a little much for him. He hadn’t responded well when I told him that I had invited Leo Fitzpatrick and his son Tyler to dinner. “You invited them? Why would you do that?” “Tyler is going to be your buddy at the campout, and I just wanted to make sure you guys are getting along.” “You have to call Mr. Benny. I can’t be a buddy to Tyler.” His little voice shrieked upwards. “He’ll kill me!” “No, he won’t. I had lunch with his dad the other day, and Tyler’s been going through some rough times.” “You had lunch with Mr. Fitzpatrick? Tyler’s dad? Like a date?”
