Chapter 11 - I Had to Explain Why I Kicked Raymond
Raymond reached toward Ellie twice.
The second time, he was coming partly out from beneath the deck.
I kicked him once.
Police accepted that I was responding to an immediate perceived threat to my daughter.
But I still talked about it with Ellie later.
She had seen my foot hit him.
Children do not automatically understand context.
“Daddy kicked the bad man,” she said.
I corrected one word.
“The man did something unsafe.”
“Is he bad?”
“I don’t know everything about him.”
She frowned.
“Bruno didn’t like him.”
“Bruno knew he shouldn’t reach for you.”
Then I said something important.
“If you’re in danger, I’ll protect you. But we don’t hurt people just because we’re angry.”
She looked at me.
“Were you angry?”
“Very.”
That answer made sense to her.
I never wanted the story to become:
Dad hurt someone because Dad loves Ellie.
I wanted it to become:
Dad stopped someone who was reaching for Ellie, then stopped when the danger stopped.
No second kick.
No chase.
Police took over.
May you like
That distinction mattered.
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