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understood she was attempting to calm his nerves, but it
didn't work. "She told me Scott's been lonely and depressed
ever since winter break. She explained about his father, his
demanding expectations, and about the punishments he
inflicts. I told her you had already shared some of this with
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me and it seemed to make her feel more at ease to talk
freely. She's experiencing terrible guilt, constantly forcing him
to replant roots and make new friends. Whenever he begins
to settle in someplace, those roots get pulled out from under
him and he must start all over again. I can only imagine how
she must feel because if I had done that to you...well, I
simply wouldn't."
Derek wasn't sure where this was going. "How does any of
this relate to me? I don't understand why Shannon decided to
call you and talk to you about all of this. It's not like the two
of you are friends. You only talk to one another at meets."
His mother had anticipated this question. "True. But when
we talk it's usually about you and Scott." Derek's heart
skipped a beat. "I first suspected she was worried at the
Waltham meet." Derek recalled how distracted he had been
seeing his mother and Shannon engaged in deep
conversation.
His mother continued. "Derek, I think the reason she
called me is because of you." Derek didn't know how to
respond. Does she know about us? "One of the things that's
comforted Shannon is knowing you and Scott are close. She
said he's never become so comfortable in a new place so
quickly. He's seemed happier than he's been in many years.
Since his father prohibited him from any social activities after
school and on weekends, she's watched him spiral into a dark
depression. She's scared and didn't know what to do, so she
called me. I think she was hoping I might be able to help her
to figure out how you and Scott could spend time together
again."
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Derek's head snapped to face his mother. "What did you
tell her?"
"First I asked her some questions. Like whether she had
communicated her concerns to her husband. She said Ronald
is under a great deal of stress."
Derek interrupted her. "Who's Ronald?"
His mother looked confused. "Scott's father."
"Oh. He only introduced himself to me as Mr. Thayer."
"I see." His mother grimaced. "Anyhow, I asked her if she
had talked to Scott about what was troubling him. Apparently,
he was very forthcoming." Derek's gut clenched. "He told her
it was unfair his father was never around, yet assumed it was
all right to treat him like a slave. He feels alienated and
alone. He even expressed his anger at her for not fighting on
his behalf. Her guilt, I think, is what pushed her to talk to
me."
"He said all of that?" A twinge of embarrassment tugged at
the sides of Derek's mind, realizing he had worried Scott
would talk about him rather than his own problems. When did
I become so egocentric? The world doesn't revolve around
me.
"Oh, he said much more." Derek froze, the concern
returning despite the internal scolding he had just given
himself. "He said he had never been as upset about moving
as when his parents moved him here to Cambridge, forcing
him to miss out on his senior year. Meeting you made his
anger disappear immediately. He said he's never had a friend
like you. He was happy about the move after your first day of
school...until winter break. His father's punishment is like
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forcing him to move all over again, but this time, he's facing
his new friends even though he can't spend any time with
them."
His mother's hands began to shake a little and her lips
began to tremble. Derek placed his hands over hers in an
attempt to comfort her. "Don't mind me, Derek. I'm a silly,
emotional woman at times and I can't help but feel for the
pain of others. Shannon didn't say so, but I got the sense she
cares for you very much, Derek. As a mother, I believe the
reason she cares for you is because you make her son happy.
I think," his mother stopped speaking again, words becoming
difficult for her, "I think that Scott cares about you very much
too. Someone who has been forced to lose people over and
over never learns to trust anything can remain stable. But
Scott had begun to trust you would be someone who wouldn't
disappear. I think Scott blames his father for having to lose
you as a friend."
Derek's emotions flared within him and he couldn't contain
his words. "Lose me as a friend. He hasn't lost me as a friend.
He's the one who shut me out. He's the one who said he
wanted his space and asked me to stop picking him up before
school and dropping him off after practice." Derek's eyes
began to sting.
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