"He's mad that his banana broke."
"It broke?"
"In half. I peeled it, and it just broke. He thinks I peeled it wrong."
"Did you?"
"Apparently."
"Glue it back together."
Tricia laughed. "That is what you would do. He wants a new banana, but that would require a trip to the grocery store. I'm not doing that until tomorrow. We have a perfectly fine banana. It's just in two pieces instead of one."
"You're raising a structuralist."
"I'm raising a small dictator who believes that I will fold eventually. He's constantly drafting new laws for the household." Something crashed softly on her end. "Hold on."
I waited until she came back.
"Sorry. He's fine. The banana is also still fine, and the peel is now in the trash. He can eat half a banana now and the other half later, and the world will continue."
"Mom would've given him a new banana. You know that."
"Mom would've opened a can of pears or peaches and called it a day."
I laughed. "That's mean."
"It's accurate. Mom didn't mess around."
I leaned against my counter and watched a square of sun move across the floor.
"I'm really okay, Trish. I want you to know that."
"I know."
"I'm going to work in a couple of hours. I'm going to come home after, and I'll do it again tomorrow."
"Okay."
"You don't have to call me on Saturdays to check up."
"I will when I think I need to. It's what big sisters do."
"I know."
I heard comments in the background again. I wasn't sure whether it was a demand or a question.
"I have to go."
"Go."
"Love you."
"Love you, Sully."
I set the phone down and smiled. Then I pushed off the counter and went to get ready for work.
Pratt would already be at morning skate.Tonight,I told myself, after his game. I'd walk over to his condo and say it. I had the opening of the sentence ready—There's something I haven't told you.
