Sarah said when Char saw her at tutoring the Monday after break and asked how things were going. “Our break was fine. We’re all fine.” “That’s so nice to hear,” Char said. “I was worried after we spoke the last time.” “No need, it’s all fine,” Sarah said, in a tone designed to end the discussion. “Good,” Char said quietly. Char regarded Sarah as she watched Stevie, who was lying on the floor on his stomach, pushing a toy car through a figure eight he had made with a crumpled piece of paper and a gum wrapper. Char waited for the other woman to snap an order for the boy to get off the dirty floor and come over so she could dust off his pants, clean his hands with wipes. But Sarah turned to Char without a word to her son. “I mean, the weather wasn’t great, but there’s nothing to be done about that, right?” Char struggled for a response while Sarah turned to watch her son again.
