Chapter 12 - Mason's Truth.
The family message arrived at 7:03 p.m.
Allison's mother had written it carefully.
"Until Allison acknowledges the harm caused by turning cousins against each other, I will step back from gatherings where this conflict may continue."
Several relatives reacted with sad-face emojis.
One uncle wrote that everyone should simply apologize and move forward.
Allison did not respond.
She had learned that vague language favored the person willing to use it first.
Turning cousins against each other sounded terrible.
It also sounded nothing like what had actually happened.
At 7:11 p.m., another message appeared.
It was from Lucy.
"Nobody turned us against Ethan."
Mark responded almost immediately.
"Lucy, stop."
Lucy did not.
"Dad called the coach without Aunt Allison's permission."
Then Mason entered the chat.
Allison had never seen him post anything there before.
"I don't want Ethan's spot."
The next five minutes were chaos.
Relatives asked what coach.
Someone asked what spot.
Mark told everyone the children were misunderstanding an adult conversation.
Sarah wrote that they were not misunderstanding.
Then Mason sent one final message.
"Dad told me Ethan gave it to me, and that wasn't true."
Allison put her phone down.
She did not feel victorious.
She felt sad that children had to correct adults in front of an extended family.
The next morning, Mason appeared at Allison's front door.
Sarah stood beside him.
She looked tired but calm.
"He asked me to bring him."
Mason held his goalkeeper gloves against his chest.
"Can I talk to Ethan?"
Allison glanced at Sarah.
Sarah nodded.
"Mark is at work."
Allison called Ethan downstairs.
The boys stood awkwardly in the living room.
Neither knew how to begin.
Mason spoke first.
"I was jealous."
Ethan looked at him.
"Of the clinic?"
"Yeah."
Mason stared at his shoes.
"But I didn't want you to quit."
"I thought you did."
"Dad kept saying I deserved it more."
Mason shrugged.
"After a while, I started thinking maybe he was right."
Ethan sat on the edge of the couch.
"Coach said they needed midfielders."
"I know."
Mason gave a small smile.
"I'm terrible at midfield."
Ethan laughed once.
The tension loosened slightly.
Mason sat beside him.
"I like goalie."
"You're good at it."
"I know."
Both boys smiled this time.
Sarah looked away as if she did not want them to see her eyes fill.
Mason's expression became serious again.
"I told Dad I don't want the new cleats."
"Why?"
"Because he bought them for the clinic he thought I was taking from you."
Ethan considered that.
"You should keep them."
Mason looked surprised.
"Really?"
"They're still cleats."
Allison had to hide a smile.
Children could sometimes untangle what adults turned into symbols.
Mason reached into his pocket.
"Also, I brought this."
He handed Ethan a small black whistle.
"I got it for your birthday, but Dad said we had to leave after the family talk."
Ethan turned it over in his palm.
"Thanks."
Mason looked toward Allison.
"My dad says I can't practice with Ethan."
Sarah folded her arms.
"Your father and I are discussing that."
The front doorbell rang.
Everyone looked toward it.
Allison checked the window.
Mark was standing on the porch.
He had come home from work early.
May you like
His face looked furious.
In one hand, he held Mason's unopened box of new cleats.
