Chapter 6 - The Rule of Pretend
The man in the tuxedo stepped around the boy on the curb.
His polished black shoe narrowly missed the broken fire truck.
"You're very bad at this game."
The boy’s voice was high, clear, and perfectly steady.
The man in the tuxedo froze.
He slowly pulled his hands out of his pockets.
He looked down at the boy in the yellow raincoat, his brow furrowing.
"Excuse me?"
The man’s tone was clipped, dripping with adult impatience.
"The game."
The boy pointed his crushed plastic fire truck toward the red brick house.
"Freeze tag."
The man blinked, looking at the empty lawn, then back down at the child.
"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, young man."
He adjusted his cuffs, preparing to walk away.
"My mom told me how to play."
The boy dropped the pebble.
"She said if you see a monster pulling someone into a cave, and you freeze and pretend you can't see the monster..."
The boy stood up.
He walked over and placed his small, dirt-covered hand directly onto the pristine black fabric of the man's tuxedo trousers.
"...it doesn't make you invisible."
The boy tilted his head, his wide eyes boring into the man’s face.
"It just means you're holding the door for them."
The man in the tuxedo stopped breathing.
His perfectly symmetrical bow tie suddenly seemed to tighten around his throat.
He looked at the small, dirty handprint on his leg.
He looked at the white front door of the brick house, now completely shut and silent.
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He didn't wipe the dirt off his trousers.
He just stood there, completely frozen, exactly as the boy had said.
