Chapter 14 - The Next Barbecue Had No Lesson
The following summer, Mom asked whether she could host another family cookout.
My first answer was no.
Then Lucas surprised me.
“Can Tyler come?”
“Yes.”
“Ben?”
“Yes.”
“Grandma?”
“Yes.”
“Grandpa?”
I looked at him.
“That’s your decision.”
He became quiet.
“Not yet.”
“Okay.”
We held the cookout at Aunt Sophia’s house instead.
Neutral ground.
No Frank.
No Derek.
Megan brought Tyler and Ben.
The boys apologized to Lucas without being coached in front of everyone.
Tyler said:
“I should’ve told Dad no.”
Lucas shrugged.
“You were scared.”
Ben whispered:
“I cried after you left.”
Lucas looked genuinely surprised.
“Why?”
“Because Mr. Bamboo was nice.”
I had to turn away for a moment.
Then Lucas took Bamboo Junior from his backpack.
“This is his cousin.”
Ben nodded solemnly.
The matter was apparently settled at the international level of stuffed-panda diplomacy.
Derek was not invited.
He was working again by then.
Smaller regional company.
No management position.
He had told the new employer about being terminated after they asked during background review.
He had also begun individual counseling and a workplace ethics program recommended by his own attorney during the separation.
I did not monitor his progress.
That was not my job.
At Peterson, Aaron moved to another sales team and eventually received a promotion.
Priya remained.
The problematic customer deal was corrected without catastrophe.
No corporate empire fell.
No congressional hearing.
A company investigated misconduct and handled it.
Ordinary accountability.
That was enough.
Lucas changed too.
For several months after the barbecue, he hid favorite belongings when adults visited.
Then slowly stopped.
He joined an after-school art program.
His favorite subject became animals wearing business clothes.
There was an elephant CEO.
A lion lawyer.
And one panda with angel wings working as “Head of Snacks.”
I bought the drawing a frame.
“Dad, it’s not that good.”
“It’s my wall.”
He rolled his eyes.
Then smiled.
I looked at Mr. Bamboo floating above a badly drawn office building.
May you like
Derek and Frank had believed burning something soft would make Lucas stronger.
Instead the strongest thing he did was refuse to become ashamed of loving it.
