Chapter 6 - An Invitation With Conditions
Dad called Thursday and asked me to bring Owen to Sunday dinner.
He said the family needed to put the birthday behind us.
I told him Owen would be with Nicole on Sunday.
Dad sighed as if I were making an unreasonable point on purpose.
"Then Saturday."
I asked whether Scott would be there.
He said yes, of course.
"Then it isn't a conversation. It's an ambush."
Dad insisted no one intended to gang up on Owen.
He added that Scott deserved a chance to defend himself.
"He has defended himself everywhere except to the person he hurt."
Dad fell silent.
I offered to meet him alone at a coffee shop, or to let Owen decide later whether he wanted a conversation.
Dad refused both options.
"Families settle things together."
"Families also protect children from being outnumbered by adults."
The call ended badly.
On Friday afternoon Owen came home holding a folded paper from his locker.
It was an invitation to a regional youth baseball showcase hosted at Scott's travel facility.
His school coach had recommended him for an evaluation slot before the conflict began.
Now a handwritten note on the back said the invitation was under review because of a previous-program eligibility concern.
I read the line twice.
Owen watched my face.
"Is Uncle Scott doing that?"
"I don't know yet."
"I didn't do anything wrong."
"I know."
He nodded, but he kept staring at the paper as though the words might change if he waited long enough.
I called Coach Bell, who was furious that a school recommendation had apparently been interrupted by an unrelated travel-team record.
He contacted the showcase coordinator directly.
By evening she confirmed that Scott's program had flagged Owen's name.
The flag wasn't a disqualification, but it had delayed his invitation.
Nicole wanted to drive straight to Indianapolis.
I asked her not to because I needed both of us thinking clearly.
We agreed to request everything in writing and avoid attacking anyone on social media.
Owen listened from the hallway as we planned.
Then he came into the kitchen and placed the invitation on the table.
"Can I still try out?"
"We're going to make sure you get a fair chance."
He looked relieved for half a second.
Then he asked, "What happens if Grandpa shows up?"
I realized he was no longer afraid of missing the showcase.
May you like
He was afraid of being shamed again.
