"Tyler’s gun. It’s not a real one. It shoots little balls. Owen said it doesn’t even hurt if it hits you, only a little."
"I know."
"But Grandma said they wouldn’t know it wasn’t real." He was picking at Rex’s felt claw. "She said they’d shoot me and then they’d find out after. She said they’d find out after and say sorry and I’d still be dead."
Marcus closed his eyes for a moment.
"Grandma was scared about something that’s real," he said. "I’m not going to lie to you about that. There are things in the world that are dangerous for you, because of how you look, that aren’t dangerous for Owen. That’s not fair. It’s not fair at all, and it’s not your fault, and it makes me so angry I don’t even know what to do with it sometimes. And we’re going to talk about all of it, you and me and Mom. I promise. We’ll talk about what to do and what not to do, and why. But not tonight. Okay? Tonight I just need you to hear one thing."
Caleb waited.
"What Grandma did to you was wrong. Even though she was scared. Even though she loves you. Even though you did something that could have been dangerous. Nobody is allowed to hurt you like that. Not Grandma, not Mom, not me. Not ever. Not for anything."
"She said it was so I’d stay alive."