Conviction

“My mom says that my dad is dead.” The kid said, looking appraisingly at Sam, his head tilted to one side as he considered this man who said that he was his dad. Sam silently damned his ex-wife to hell and back.

“I know. I don’t blame her actually. I sort of hurt her, and that’s why she doesn’t want me around you and why she said that I was dead.” Sam explained. ‘Sort of’ was a gross understatement, but this dumb kid did not need to know that.

“Why did you hurt her? It’s not nice to hurt people.”

“Listen, kid. What did she say about me?” Sam asked, glancing around surreptitiously. He knew that Sandra wasn’t around because he had been hanging around when she and the kid were arguing and he had heard them loud and clear. Hell, the whole street had heard them. Then he had watched as she left the house alone. Still, he had no idea if she was going to come back soon. Her friend’s house was just down the street, after all. It was better he got this over and done with as fast as possible.

“S