Nia nodded.
“Good.”
She looked directly at him.
“I accused you of hurting Cameron without evidence.”
Eli’s face stayed still.
“I also touched your wrist after you said no.”
“I was scared for my son.”
“That explains why I was moving too fast.”
“It does not make what I did okay.”
Tameka watched.
Nia continued.
“I’m sorry.”
Eli looked toward his mother.
Then back.
“Okay.”
Again.
The word did not mean everything was repaired.
Nia respected that.
She looked at Tameka.
“I’m sorry to you too.”
Tameka folded her hands.
“For?”
Specific.
Of course.
Nia answered:
“For treating your son like I already knew what kind of kid he was.”
Eli looked down.
Tameka’s expression changed slightly.
Nia continued.
“I had heard about the practice fight.”
“The technical.”
“Him being late.”
“I built that into a character judgment.”
“Then when Cameron was hurt, I gave my son the benefit of doubt and gave Eli intent.”
Tameka nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
No comfort.
Nia appreciated that.
Tameka leaned back.
“Can I tell you something you're not going to like?”
“Yes.”
“Black boys don't get much childhood once adults decide they're difficult.”
Nia felt defensive before Tameka finished.
She recognized it.
Stayed quiet.
Tameka continued.
“I know we are both Black women.”
“That doesn't make us immune.”
“We hear ‘aggressive.’”
“‘Disrespectful.’”
“‘Problem kid.’”
“Then one boy gets to be scared and the other boy gets to be dangerous.”
Nia looked toward Eli.
He stared at his homework.
Tameka continued.
“Eli can absolutely be difficult.”
He looked up.
“Mom.”
“You can.”
Tameka returned her attention to Nia.
“He talks too much.”
“He argues.”
“He thinks every referee is personally insulting basketball.”
“That technical foul was stupid.”
Eli muttered:
“The call was terrible.”
Tameka pointed.
“See?”
Nia almost smiled.
Tameka did not.
“But stupid behavior is not permanent evidence.”
Nia nodded.
“You’re right.”
Tameka looked toward her son’s wrist.
“He came home yesterday asking what he did wrong.”
Nia’s eyes filled.
Tameka continued.
“I said nothing.”
“He said, ‘Then why did Cameron’s mom look at me like that?’”
Nia closed her eyes.
There.
Consequences beyond apology.
She looked at Eli.
“You did nothing wrong when Cameron got hurt.”
The boy shrugged.
Nia continued.
“You helped him.”
Eli’s eyes moved toward her.
“I should have asked before deciding anything.”
“Yes.”
That came quickly.
Good.
Nia nodded.
“Yes.”