PART 2

“Can I see your watch?” the officer asked.

My son lifted his trembling wrist just enough for him to take it without pulling on his injured side. The officer studied the screen, then touched his radio.

“Dispatch, confirm the emergency call came from this device.”

A voice answered immediately.

“Confirmed. Child-initiated SOS. Location matched this address.”

Mom stopped talking.

The paramedic beside my son asked where the pain was worst. When my son pointed to his ribs, she told her partner to bring the stretcher closer and warned everyone not to move him unnecessarily.

My sister stepped forward. “He was fine five minutes ago.”

The officer turned to her.

“You said he started the fight?”

“Yes.”

From the hallway, his partner called out, “I found the other boy.”

My nephew appeared behind him, suddenly pale. Before my sister could reach him, the officer asked one simple question.

“Did he hit you first?”

My nephew looked at my son, then at his mother.

“No.”

My sister’s face changed.

Mom whispered his name like a warning.

The officer heard that too.

Then my son spoke from the floor.

“Grandma took Dad’s phone so he couldn’t call 911.”

The room went completely still.