"you didn't know?"
"no..."
jefferson goes on.
"up until the day we moved in with you..."
freddie chimes in, "yeah, at least you got to stay over your friends a lot. i was left there. but you're older so you still got it a lot more than i ever did."
jefferson looks far and away, tight lipped, quiet.
they go on for a while...and we listen.
"up until the day we moved in with you..."
steve is still. unnaturally still.
tears streaming down my face.
"up until the day we moved in with you..."
jefferson's face stern, angry...distant.
...
"you know i talked to my father over the summer. i thanked him for leaving us. i got the better end of the deal. like i wouldnt be where i am if he stuck around. when i talked to my sister she told me that he was really hurt by what i said. and i'm like, how you going to turn that around and pin it on me. come on now."
jefferson laughs a laugh of "ridiculous", body in motion, shaking his head.
...
"i'm not a bitter person. like what's the point of that. i have a great life. i got the better end of the deal." jefferson smiles.
freddie pipes in, "yeah...."
....
conversation moves to basketball, college, grades, goals, graduation, next pausing points perhaps a stop or two along the way.
i look at each face.
listen.
"incredibly lucky"