Eddie was at the kitchen table with his right wrist wrapped in a cloth that Clara had dampened and bound with the practical efficiency she brought to most medical situations, which was to say efficiently and without excessive sympathy because excessive sympathy with Eddie tended to make him defensive rather than grateful. She had assessed what needed doing and done it. Eddie looked up when Calder came in. His expression was already set in the particular configuration. That meant he knew he'd done something wrong and was prepared to receive the consequences but was not going to apologize before he'd established that he'd had reasons.
The post he started I know what the post did. Calder said he sat down across from him and looked at the wrapped wrist. Can you move your fingers? Eddie spread them slowly. Yes.
Does it hurt more if you do that or less? More. But it's not I can move them. All right. Calder looked at him.
How far did you fall? Not far. The rails only 5 ft. 5 ft is far enough. I landed on my arm, not my head.
Eddie Calder waited until the boy looked at him directly. I told you that post was soft. I checked it. Eddie said with my hand. It seemed checking a post with your hand tells you about the surface, not the inside.
The rod on that post was in the center. He paused. Did I tell you which post to stay off of? Eddie's jaw tightened. Yes.
Did you stay off it? I checked it first. That's not what I asked. Eddie looked at the table. "No," he said.
"The kitchen was very quiet. Nelly had been near the back door a moment ago and was now very clearly not there. " Benny's voice, which was usually audible somewhere in the vicinity at all times, was conspicuously absent. "I'm going to ask you something," Calder said. "And I want you to think before you answer. Why did you get back on that fence after I told you not to? " Eddie was quiet for long enough that it was clear he was actually thinking about it.